§ 7. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland what temporary arrangements have been made at the Scottish Local Government Board during the absence of Sir George McCrae on military duties?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)Sir George McCrae has been able to give a certain amount of personal attention to the work of his Department. Otherwise, as usual in such cases, the work is shared among his colleagues.
§ 10. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland what is the precise relationship of the Scottish advisory committees to the Local Government Board; who was responsible for choosing the members of the advisory committee, and on what principle were, they selected; why the committee provides no public record of its proceedings; whether he is aware that the memoranda it issues from time to time are impracticable and result in great hardships to applicants; what measures the advisory committee adopt to receive the views of local relief committees; and how many, if any, of these suggestions are given effect to?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Scottish Advisory Committee was appointed at a meeting of representatives of local authorities and voluntary organisations held in Edinburgh on 7th August last. Two members of the Local Government Board for Scotland are on the committee, and the Board has assisted the committee by giving the services of some of its officials and otherwise beyond which there is no connection between the Board and the committee. As my hon. Friend is probably aware, the Scottish Advisory Committee is recognised by the central authorities of the National Relief Fund as the agency through which grants from the fund for relief of civil distress in Scot- 388 land are administered, but the committee is not under my control, and I cannot undertake to answer for it.
§ Mr. WATTIs my right hon. Friend aware that the choice of committees made by his Department is very limited, and practically the same men and women are appointed every time?
Mr. McKINNON WOODMy Department did not appoint the committee, as I explained very carefully in my reply.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the Scottish Local Government Board responsible at all for the spending of that money, and, if they are not, is there any Minister to whom we can address questions with regard to the spending of that public money?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt is not public money in the sense of being State money. It is voluntary contributions, and the Local Government Board has no responsibility for the expenditure. The expenditure is controlled by the central committees sitting in London, but it was felt in Scotland that it was desirable to have a representative Scottish committee representing local knowledge and local sentiment.