Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate if he was aware that practically all the Scottish Members supported the proposal to put Scottish Poor Law medical officers in the same position as regards right of appeal as their brethren in England and Ireland; and if the Government would afford facilities for the second 17 reading to the Local Government (Scotland) Bill in order that the case might be duly considered in Committee?
§ Mr. UREI am aware that the Bill referred to receives considerable support. Parish Councils, however, are by no means unanimous in the matter, and without evidence of more general concurrence on their part the Government are not prepared to adopt the course which my hon. Friend proposes.
Mr. CATHCART WASONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary for Scotland, in reply to a deputation a year and a half ago, promised that this matter should receive consideration when the Local Government (Scotland) Bill was before the House?
§ Mr. UREHe has given it consideration and found that the local authorities are not by any means in universal agreement on the subject.