§ 39. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the Scottish School Board Association in favour of Scottish educational policy being determined in Scotland; whether a petition from Scottish Members of Parliment was presented to him urging the transference of the Scottish Education Department to Edinburgh; whether he can say how many Members signed the petition; and whether, in view of this expression of opinion in and out of the House, he is prepared to accede to the request?
§ Mr. PIRIEBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers this question may I ask before he gives the numbers of the Scottish Members he will be careful to eliminate two signatures in the cases in which the signatories have repudiated them?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe resolution in question, according to the report which I have seen in the Press, referred to legislation on educational matters. It has, therefore, no bearing on the question of the location of the office of the Scottish Education Department, with regard to which I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House on 23rd July, 1912, after consideration of the memorial to which he refers. To that statement I have nothing to add. My hon. Friend will recollect that the number of Members supporting the proposal was a matter of controversy which, I think, it is not necessary now to revive.
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am perfectly certain that a very large proportion of Scottish Members do not desire the Office to be transferred to Edinburgh.
§ Mr. PIRIEWill the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the memorial signed by the majority of the Scottish Members?
Mr. McKINNON WOODWith regard to that memorial, there were a certain number of signatures attached at the time, but other signatures were carried over from a former memorial. We do not regard the latter as having the same weight as the former.