asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent surveys have been made of the laundry needs of elderly persons; and to what extent these needs are being met.

The Scottish Old People's Welfare Committee recently made inquiries through its affiliated committees and concluded that in a number of areas the laundry needs of elderly persons were not being fully met. Local authorities have copies of the report, and I am about to issue a circular asking them to consider what more they can usefully do.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that we have been pressing the Government to do more about this matter for almost 10 years? Is not it time that the Government stopped fiddling and fumbling around and devised methods of meeting a really urgent need?

I very much hope that local authorities will develop this service. A circular was sent to them some time ago and I am about to issue a further one urging them to do this. However, I think that we should leave this matter, if at all possible, to the enterprise of local authorities.