§ Mr. J. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes are being made in the distribution of 150W responsibilities within his Departments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclayIn order to meet changing administrative needs, I have given a Direction under the Reorganisation of Offices (Scotland) Act, 1939, redistributing those of my functions which are assigned to the Scottish Home Department and the Department of Health for Scotland. This is a regrouping of my present responsibilities and does not affect those which my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Labour or other Ministers discharge in Scotland.
On 1st June, 1962, the Scottish Home Department and the Department of Health for Scotland will be dissolved and replaced by two new departments—the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Scottish Development Department. The Scottish Home and Health Department will discharge the present home affairs functions of the Scottish Home Department and the present health and welfare functions of the Department of Health. The Scottish Development Department will discharge the functions relating to local government, electricity, roads and industry at present carried out by the Scottish Home Department, and the functions relating to housing, town and country planning and environmental services at present carried out by the Department of Health.
The functions assigned to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and to the Scottish Education Department remain unchanged.