Scottish Assembly (Hansard, 21 June 1978)

§ 9. Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in converting the Royal High School in Edinburgh for the proposed Scottish Assembly.

§ Mr. Millan
Progress is satisfactory. The second stage of the work described in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. White) on 10th March 1978 is about to be put in hand.

§ Mr. Knox
On present plans, what is the earliest date on which the building could be ready for sittings of the Scottish Assembly?

Mr. Milan
We are aiming for the spring of 1979.

§ Mr. David Steel
Will the Secretary of State confirm that the oval shape of the chamber is to be retained following the conversion work? If so, does he confirm that it is entirely suitable for a multiparty Assembly? Will he take account of what another place has done to the devolution Bill and ensure that the electoral system matches the shape of the new chamber?

Mr. Milan
The chamber is being retained in its present form. It will be suitable for all sorts of representation but I would not care to predict whether it will be multi-party.

§ Mr. Dalyell
If there is not a Labour majority, with which party does the Labour Party go into collision, the Tories or the SNP?

Mr. Milan
That is not likely to arise. Of course there will be a Labour majority.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
As a considerable sum of public money is involved, have the Government given any consideration to what use might be made of the building in the event of Scotland's rejecting the Assembly plan?

Mr. Milan
No, we have not given any consideration to that, because we do not think that it will arise.