§ Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has issued to local authorities in Scotland regarding electoral areas for the new regional and district councils.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI have placed in the Library of the House copies of the provisional proposals which have been issued as a basis for discussion with local authorities. When these discussions have been completed they will be reported to an advisory committee which I will shortly establish. On the basis of the advice of this committee, schemes of electoral representation for each authority will be published in draft. An opportunity will thereafter be given for objections to be lodged with the Secretary of State and considered before the new electoral areas are fixed by order.