§ 11. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is now prepared to make any statement regarding the addition of a Scottish Member of Parliament to the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)The First Commissioner fears that he is not able to adopt this sugges- 9 tion, which appears to him to rest upon a misconception of the functions of the Scottish Board.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this was considered by the Scottish Liberal Members together, who quite understood what they were doing, and that they unanimously asked that this man should be put on, and does the First Commissioner of Works intend to resent the suggestion made by the majority of the Scottish Members in this House?
§ Mr. BENNThere is no question of resenting the suggestion made, but I do not think the Scottish Members had before them the circumstances which weighed with the First Commissioner.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERMay I ask if the First Commissioner has received any representation whatever about the names of the gentlemen placed on this Board?
§ Captain MURRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there were some Scottish Members who were not aware of the so-called facts stated by the hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the meeting at which this suggestion was made was convened in the ordinary way by agenda, and that everybody entitled to be present could have been present? This suggestion was made by a majority of the Scottish Members, and I wish to know if we are not to have this man?
§ Mr. BENNI am not aware of the circumstances under which the meeting was called, but the First Commissioner will be glad to communicate to the Scottish Members the reasons which weighed with him in arriving at his decision.
§ Mr. KINGIs it the case that no Scottish Member could be added because there is no one who is a fit and proper person?