MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked whether the National Insurance Commissioners in Scotland have issued a circular asking county councils and town councils to provide halls for lectures on the Insurance Act; and whether he will state under what Act of Parliament the said county councils and town councils have power to incur expenditure for this purpose; and, if not, on whom will the cost of providing the halls fall?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)A circular was issued on 18th January by the Scottish Commissioners stating that they were prepared to provide lecturers free of cost if the cost of the hall and incidental expenses were met locally. No suggestion has been made that any illegal expenditure should be incurred. Lectures have been held in such halls and the expenses have been borne by the conveners of the meeting. They have not been borne by the Insurance Commissioners.
§ Mr. MOOREIs there any power for county councils or local authorities to have any lectures under the Insurance Act except upon the subject of health?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat is their consideration. If they have not, no doubt they will not let the hall.
§ Mr. FELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will see that in the appointment of lecturers under the National Insurance Act it be made a condition that no lecturer shall be a candidate for Parliament in any constituency where he has delivered lectures?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo such condition is, or can be, imposed on persons accepting temporary appointments as lecturers which would restrict their liberty of action after they have ceased to be employed for the remainder of their lives.
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo such scandal is anticipated. If a young man of twenty-five takes on a temporary appointment and lectures perhaps in three or four hundred constituencies you could never lay down the condition that he is not ever to represent any one of them in Parliament.