§ 72. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Local Government Board for Scotland issued a circular letter, No. S/4,721, on 29th December, requesting parish councils in the national interest to forgo their routine visits to boarded-out children, lunatics, and others; how many parish councils, and what councils they are, who have ignored that letter and incurred the expenditure of such unnecessary visitations; what amount these visitations have cost in such instances; and does he propose to insist in future on the money being saved during war-time?
§ Mr. MUNROThe circular referred to was issued to twenty-five of the larger parish councils on 29th December, 1916. I am informed that all but four parish councils thereupon took steps to modify their visiting arrangements. The exceptions were the parish councils of Aberdeen, Govan, Ayr, and Dalziel. Aberdeen did not accept the Board's suggestion, and Govan only partially complied with it. In the cases of Ayr and Dalziel, the visits paid involved practically no travelling. As regards the present position, the only information the Board have is that Glasgow Parish Council are reverting to pre-war visiting arrangements, and the Board are in communication with them on the subject. The actual costs of visits could only be ascertained by a special return. The Board have, however, no control over the expenditure in question, unless the auditor reports it as excessive. I quite recognise that there may be reasons which make it difficult in some cases to comply with the suggestion made, but the matter, in all its aspects, is being further considered.