§ 65. Mr. MACPHERSONasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether the General Superintendent of the Poor for the Northern District has been transferred; whether it is the policy of the Department to delegate his duties to the local officers of the National Health Insurance Commissioners, now merged in the Board of 1864 Health; and whether he is aware that any such delegation of important Poor Law administration to officials who have no skilled knowledge of Poor Law administration is causing disquiet in the minds of those interested in such adminstration, and is contrary to the views expressed by the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress, 1909?
§ Captain ELLIOTIt is the case that the General Superintendent of Poor for the Northern District has been transferred to another district and that the District Inspector of the Scottish Board of Health for Health Insurance purposes resident in Inverness has been appointed General Superintendent for the Northern District; he will also exercise supervision over the insurance work in the district. I am aware that representations have been made against, this arrangement by several bodies interested in Poor Law administration in Scotland, but in making the appointment, as a result of which a considerable economy will be effected, the Board considered most carefully every aspect of the question and they were satisfied that the special qualifications of the official appointed, his knowledge and experience of the district, his acquaintance with a considerable part of the worn of the General Superintendent for the Northern District, and his knowledge of Gaelic made him particularly suitable for the post.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the group I represent here are satisfied that if it was necessary to make this appointment no better man could have been appointed than Mr. Beaton: but is the Department satisfied it was wise to go against the views expressed clearly in the Report of the Royal Commission of 1909?
§ Captain ELLIOTYes, Sir, the Board had the Report under very careful consideration before making the appointment.