§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the report of the Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People.
§ Mr. William RossI am most grateful for the work of the committee under the chairmanship of Lord Birsay, whose report is being published today. I accept its recommendation that there is a continuing need for a central body to act as a focal point for the promotion of the welfare of the travellers, and I accordingly have appointed the committee for a further period with broader terms of reference and some changes in membership. Lord Birsay has kindly accepted378W my invitation to continue to serve as chairman of the committee. As the report recommended, grants for the provision of caravan sites will continue to be available to local authorities under the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967, and in urban areas under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969. I am inviting comments from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the other recommendations in the report.