§ Mr. FELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will make it a condition of the employment of the lecturers under the National Insurance Act that they shall not be candidates for Parliament at the next General Election?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 4th March.
§ Mr. FELLDoes the hon. Gentleman think it right that public money should be spent on what may prove to be an election campaign?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no anticipation that public money will be spent in furthering the election campaign of any candidate.
Mr. CATHCART WASONI wish to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury a question, of which I have given him private notice, whether, in view of the fact that the Scotch Insurance Commissioners, after offering to send an official lecturer to explain the provisions of the National Insurance Act to the friendly societies in Shetland, on condition that the said societies paid all expenses in connection with providing halls and advertising, and, the said terms having been agreed to by the said societies, and a request sent for an official lecturer to the Scotch Insurance Commissioners, the said Scotch Insurance Commissioners regretted that they could not carry out their undertaking, and if he will undertake that an official lecturer be sent forthwith to the Shetland and Orkney Isles, or consider the necessity of appointing business men as Scottish Insurance Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have not had time to obtain full information as to the facts, but I understand that a considerable time elapsed between the offer referred to and the date of a request being received from Shetland, and that in the interval the lecturers had engagements elsewhere. I will convey the request of my hon. Friend for an official lecturers to visit Shetland to the Scottish Commission, and I have no doubt that they will be able to arrange to send one at an early date.
Mr. CATHCART WASONThat is not at all an answer to my question. They have refused to send a man. They say they will not be able to send one owing to the expense, and that they have not got the money to do it with. That is the only reason given. What will be the cost of sending an official lecturer?
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYBefore the hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask what would be the cost of sending a lecturer to Hong Kong?
Mr. CATHCART WASONWhat will be the cost of sending one official lecturer to the Orkney and Shetland Isles?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will inquire the cost of sending a lecturer both to Shetland and the other place.