asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards transferring all powers in the new towns from the development corporations to the elected representatives: and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to alter the arrangements whereby the Scottish new town development corporations perform their task in co-operation with local authorities having responsibilities in the area.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that that answer will cause consternation among the new towns not only in Scotland but in the whole of the United Kingdom? Does not he consider that for a new town such as East Kilbride, which has been established for 27 years and which now has a population of 75,000, the time has arrived for very serious consideration whether the functions of that town should be carried out in exactly the same way as those of other towns, not only in Scotland but in the whole of the United Kingdom?

I appreciate the views which the hon. Gentleman has expressed. At present, Scottish legislation empowers my right hon. Friend to wind up a development corporation and transfer all or part of its undertaking to the local authority for the area. Although East Kilbride will reach its target population in about two years' time, its development corporation has a continuing responsibility for the recently designated new town at Stonehouse. My right hon. Friend has not decided whether to pursue the normal course laid down by the legislation or seek an alternative course which would require further legislation. It is not intended to make a decision on this matter in the immediate future.

May I ask my hon. Friend not to be misled by the Question on the Order Paper? As a former member of East Kilbride and Stonehouse Development Corporation, I can testify to its success and efficiency. The present organisation is well within the bounds——

Order. The hon. Gentleman must not testify; he should ask a question.

I welcome what my hon. Friend has said about East Kilbride Development Corporation. I have often represented how much I admire the work that it does. There have been representations from East Kilbride Town Council and others to the effect that the development corporation's assets should be transferred to them when the new town reaches its target population. As I have said, the time is not yet right for a decision to be made about this, but I have promised that I will take full account of the views expressed.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.