§ 17. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give an undertaking to publish the report on Border development not later than when he announces his own plans for the future of the Borders.
§ Mr. RossAn account of the economic situation in the Borders, based on the study by the Scottish Economic Planning Board, will form part of the Government's published plans for the area.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayWould the right hon. Gentleman care to give us the date for publication of those plans, as he failed to give us a date yesterday when we very much wanted to hear one?
§ Mr. RossThe right hon. Gentleman will be disappointed again today, but I am quite sure that he will not be surprised. In drawing up long-term plans for Scotland, it would be very foolish to try to work against time and be governed by particular dates. The general indication I gave to him of later in the year—the autumn—is quite adequate and, I am sure, meets the hopes of the people of Scotland who want to see, at long last, some realistic proposals covering the whole of Scotland.