§ Mr. Brittanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish his estimate of the number of persons entitled to vote in the referendum in Scotland.
§ Mr. MillanI shall make this information available before Parliament rises for the referendum recess.
§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the referendum on the Scotland Act on 1 March can go ahead in the event of schools in Scotland, used as polling stations, being closed on that day as a result of industrial action.
§ Mr. MillanI am watching this situation very closely. I cannot at this stage anticipate what industrial action might be taking place on 1 March but am encouraged by the recent statement that trade unions will not interfere with schools on that day. I am reluctant to believe that trade unions would seek to interfere with an exercise of democratic rights.