§ Q8. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister if he will consider, as a phase in evolving Government in Scotland, appointing a Secretary of State with Cabinet responsibility for Scotland and the requisite Under-Secretaries as Ministerial heads of Department each with full powers to conduct its affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland already most effectively represents the views and interests of Scotland in the Cabinet. As to the suggestion that236W junior Ministers should be given full powers to conduct the affairs of separate Scottish Departments, I would recommend my hon. Friend to reread the Report of the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs which clearly sets out the likely disadvantages to Scotland of such an arrangement.