asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to exempt from cuts in expenditure programmes all essential local authority work on housing, hospitals, factories, etc.

Housing is exempted from the current rephasing of public building work. I shall, as always, seek to ensure that restraints on other building are so applied that essential work is allowed to go on.

I am very grateful for that reply. We have been scared of what has happened in the past being repeated in the near future, namely, that luxury building proceeds, using up scarce raw materials and labour in certain industries. We are grateful to note that that is unlikely to happen next year.

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman appreciates the point I have made.