§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Lord President of the Council if he can provide an estimate of the number of meetings per week in which Ministers are engaged on work connected with devolution.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe Ministers concerned with devolution are frequently engaged in meetings to discuss it.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Lord President of the Council if he can make a progress report on work under way to establish a Scottish Parliament.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council hopes to be able to report on progress during the debate on devolution which is expected in the new year.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Lord President of the Council what progress the Government are making on studies of how to devolve to a Scottish Parliament certain powers over trade and industry which are currently exercised by United Kingdom Departments.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe possibility of devolving trade and industry powers is 327W being actively considered; decisions have not yet been reached.
§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Lord President of the Council if he is able to announce, in advance of a Bill, the date when the Government plan to have a Scottish Parliament begin its first working session.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has said recently that it is impossible to state the timetable for devolution with certainty. The most complex legal, financial and constitutional matters are involved and these require an enormous amount of detailed work. My hope is that the legislation will be drafted during the present Session, but until that work is further advanced I cannot say when the first meeting of the Scottish Assembly might be.