§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the commercial relationships between Mr. Marc Ellington and Mr. Richard Emerson of the Historic Buildings Council.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMr. Marc Ellington is a member of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, a statutory advisory body appointed by my right hon. Friend. Mr. Richard Emerson is not a member of the council; he is a principal inspector of historic buildings in Historic Buildings and Monuments, Scotland, which is part of the Scottish Environment Department. Mr. Ellington and Mr. Emerson have had no commercial dealings in any official capacity.
My right hon.Friend is aware that reference was made in a television programme broadcast on Channel 4 on 10 March to the purchase by Mr. Emerson from Mr. Ellington of a plot of land at Crovie in 1985. This was an entirely proper private transaction between two individuals. Their public duties did not overlap, and Mr. Emerson informed his senior officer of his intentions in 1985. Mr. Ellington and Mr. Emerson both retain the complete confidence of my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the "Scottish Eye" programme on Channel 4, broadcast on 10 March.