asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he has now received from the trustees of the National Gallery in Scotland their proposals for the type of picture which should be shown in the new gallery of modern art at Inverleith House.

The trustees are not required to submit their proposals to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, but I understand they are considering the possible scope of the collection on the lines I indicated on 10th February.

Will the hon. Gentleman be more specific about the lines he indicated, because he indicated that the trustees were meeting, and that after they had met he would be able to indicate more? Can he say that it is now agreed that this gallery shall be filled simply with modern pictures by living artists?

No, Sir, I am not in a position to say that yet. In point of fact, it is today the trustees are meeting, and not last Thursday.