asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his department have given to Edinburgh Corporation about traffic problems.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which my hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Gentleman on 17th November last.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman being rather slow about this? What is happening to the ring road around Edinburgh, and what discussions is he having with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about railway closures?

The hon. Gentleman should appreciate that Edinburgh itself regards this problem as an urgent one. There is a working party, to which we have given considerable help, and a comprehensive assessment of the problem and solutions to it can be made in changes to the Edinburgh Development Plan, which I hope to receive fairly soon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a new factor was introduced into this recently with the proposal to close the Edinburgh to Corstorphine line and that this will add to congestion in the city's streets?

Yes, indeed.