§ MR. HERBERT PAULI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the Government have received a memorial from the Edinburgh Merchants' Association, in favour of transferring the headquarters of the Scottish Office from London to Edinburgh; and whether they are prepared to consider the proposal favourably?
§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Mid Lanark)also asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the presence of so many Government Offices in London was complained against by the Vestries of London as a grievance and a loss to the 20 local ratepayers, and whether the Government would move the headquarters of the Scottish Office from London, where they were not wanted, to Scotland.
§ *SIR GEORGE TREVELYANI do not think that the deduction drawn by my hon. Friend in his supplementary question, from what has taken place in this House, is otherwise than a fair one. The Government have received the memorial from the Edinburgh Merchants' Association. In order to carry on the business of Scotland in Parliament it is necessary that the headquarters of the Scottish Office should be in London.
§ *SIR GEORGE TREVELYANIn order to carry on the business in Parliament.
§ DR. MACGREGORWill not the right hon. Gentleman, then, move in the direction of transferring the business of Scotland as well as the offices to Scotland?
§ [No answer was given.]