asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that housewives are now being deprived of the choice between gas and electricity in local authority housing estates where in many cases electricity is given a monopoly; and what reply he is making to the complaint about this matter sent to him by the Women's Gas Federation on 11th June.

It is for the local authority concerned to decide which services should be laid on to its houses. I would hope that authorities would give full weight to the importance of giving the greatest possible freedom of choice to their tenants as recommended in the Scottish Housing Handbook. I am replying on these lines to the representations which I have received from the Women's Gas Federation.

Is the Secretary of State aware that housewives have always had the choice since the Housing Manual, 1945, laid down that it was the choice of the women of Scotland to be free to decide between electricity and gas?

The hon. Lady will realise from my original reply that I share her view on this.