asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Department's Scientific Advisory Committee, instructed in 1932 to inquire into the circumstances attending births in Scotland, has completed its report; and, if so, when will it be published?

The detailed examination of the data collected in connection with the inquiry into the circumstances attending births in Scotland has now been completed by the medical officers charged with this duty and they are on the point of submitting their report to the Scientific Advisory Committee. I hope that it will be possible to publish the report in about two months' time after the Committee have had an opportunity of considering it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this inquiry sat for six months in 1932, and is he not of opinion that the time that has elapsed since then is ample for this report to have been completed; and cannot he expedite the report and not delay it for a further two months as the matter is of interest and importance?

The report will be published immediately after the committee has had a little further time for consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to make the period shorter than two months?

I will make inquiries.