§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the brief "the Scottish Office and its activities" issued in June 1988; whether he still intends to appoint consultants in terms of that brief to raise the profile of the Scottish Office; what is the intended budget for this project; when such an appointment will be made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindI am giving careful consideration to the nature of any commission which might be given to consultants in the light of the brief issued in June 1988 and the responses to it; and I shall make my conclusions known in due course.