§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he would state the various deputations from Scotland that have waited on him in connection with the Education (Scotland) Bill, giving the total number of such.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) ForfarshireI have a record of sixteen deputations from Scotland which have waited upon me in connection with the Education (Scotland) Bill. The names of the various authorities represented by these deputations cannot conveniently be narrated in a verbal answer, but I will send the hon. Member a list of them.
§ MR. PIRIEHow many of the deputations were due to the somewhat unparalled action of His Majesty's Government in changing the scheme of allocation originally proposed and indeed adopted on the Second Reading of the Bill?
§ MR. SINCLAIRMy hon. friend knows that that is a matter of argument, and we do not take the same views on it.
§ MR. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman give an estimate of the cost to the ratepayers of these deputations?
§ MR. SINCLAIRThat question should be addressed to the authorities concerned.
§ MR. PIRIEIn view of the number of deputations, does the right hon. Gentleman still consider this Bill to be non-contentious?
§ MR. SINCLAIRIt certainly is not a highly controversial Bill.
§ [No Answer was returned.]