§ 24. Mr. CURRIEasked whether the Government has indicated to any of the municipal authorities in Scotland who are at present engaged upon schemes for the acquisition of gas undertakings or similar public utility schemes that they will not be allowed to raise capital by borrowing for such purposes; and whether processes of arbitration in connection with such schemes are to proceed now or are to be indefinitely postponed in view of the claims of recruiting upon the already depleted staffs of municipalities and other staffs affected?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)Sanction to raise loans for the acquisition of gas undertakings by Scottish local authorities has been refused in several cases during the past year. It is undesirable that local authorities should enter into commitments of the kind—including arbitration proceedings—at the present time. The expediency of suspending arbitration proceedings already in progress must depend upon circumstances.