§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the appeals lodged with his Department against the decision of Highland regional council not to open a record of need, the dates on which the appeals were received by his Department and when he expects to give his decisions.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 16 July 1993]: The Scottish Office Education Department has before it one such appeal, about which I wrote to the hon. Member on 17 June. This was referred to the Secretary of State by Highland regional council appeals committee on 3 November 1992. The considerations involved in the appeals process are invariably complex but I expect the decision of the Secretary of State in this case will be issued soon.