42. Commander WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the individual cost of the survey of four parishes in Kincardine which was made in 1926?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Major Elliot)The estimated cost in respect of salary and travelling expenses of the two officers engaged on this service is £530, composed of £340 salaries and £190 travelling expenses. Strictly speaking, however, only the sum of £190 can be regarded as additional cost to the State, as the duties of the seconded officers were performed without the employment of additional staff. I regret that it is not possible to give the cost for each parish separately.
Commander WILLIAMSCan the Under-Secretary assure the House that the Government will not proceed to waste any more money in this perfectly inane manner?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONArising out of the original answer, may I ask if the Under-Secretary is aware that all sections of this House regard that expenditure as most valuable?