§ Mr. CashTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the "next steps" initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 3 June 1991]: Three executive agencies have so far been established under the next steps initiative from within my responsibilities: the Registers of Scotland, Historic Scotland and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. I announced the candidature of the agricultural scientific services of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department for agency status on Tuesday 16 April 1991 and further candidates will be brought forward in due course.