§ 12. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he will publish the report commissioned by his Department from Edinburgh University on development in the Borders.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonThe complete report is not yet available for printing, but my right hon. Friend hopes to publish it early in the new year.
§ Mr. SteelIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer will be received with satisfaction, since there has 1422 been great dissatisfaction at the delay and now we have a definite date? What steps is the Minister taking, particularly following the article in this morning's Scotsman, to keep together this excellent planning research team at Edinburgh University to make use of it for Scotland as a whole?
§ Dr. MabonI read the article, and I am naturally concerned, as is my right hon. Friend, that an excellent team doing such work should face difficulties. There is always a problem of continuity with such teams. They have other work to do—certain other work was mentioned in the article—and there is a limit to the number of Government research projects that can be carried out. I cannot be specific, and can only say that my right hon. Friend is aware of the problem.