§ Mr. WATTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the fact that a trades council in the West of Scotland had recently passed a resolution that in the trade boards about to be appointed the special requirements of Scotland could not be satisfactorily met except by the appointment of at least four representatives from the organised Scottish workers, four from the employers, and two official members appointed from persons resident in Scotland and having a knowledge of its industrial conditions; and, if so, would he say whether he would accede to this request?
Mr. BUXTONMy attention has been called to the resolution in question. The number of representatives of Scottish employers and workers on any trade must depend on the area covered and the total membership of the board. Every effort is made in framing regulations for trade boards to ensure that Scottish interests are adequately represented. The usual number of appointed members acting on a trade board is three, and in none of the boards at present contemplated is there sufficient reason for restricting two of the appointments to persons resident in Scotland.