HC Deb 05 March 1929 vol 226 cc315-6
Sir J. GILMOUR

I beg to move, in page 8, line 29, to leave out the word "Board," and to insert instead thereof the words "Department of Health."

This is a purely drafting Amendment.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

In supporting the Secretary of State for Scotland, I want to take advantage of this opportunity to read a letter which I have received from the chief of the health department of the city of Glasgow. It is from the head of a certain school in Glasgow, but I am not permitted to give his name. He has been able to give definite impressions of his experience in connection with the children previously residing in slum areas under his charge. There are now 140 children formerly residing in the worst parts of Anderston and Gorbals, and the schoolmaster's impressions of one year's experience are these: Prior to the introduction of the rehoused population, the original inhabitants of the district consisted mainly of a good working-class population. The first effect of the introduction of the scholars into the school from the re-housed population was to cause a definite manifestation of snobbery on the part of the original residents. One lady assured him that it was a disgraceful thing that we of the middle classes have to allow our children to mix with such riff raff, and she considered that some protest should be made. In another instance the schoolmaster heard a mother who resided in one of the original tenements—

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

I understand that the expression "Board" here is really the same as the "Department of Health." Therefore, it is only a matter of drafting, and I do not see how any argument can arise on the Amendment, which is only to bring the Bill up to date. The word "Board" has been put in apparently by error, and so has to be changed, but there is no change in effect. Therefore, I do not see how an argument can arise.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

No, but I thought I would probably be in order. I consulted the great legal luminaries of the House on this matter before I rose, and they told me it would be quite in order, owing to the fact that the word "Board" was being changed to the words "Department of Health," as this matter would come under the Health Department. If you say I am not in order I will not press it, but I am just about finishing.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

What was called the Board is now called the Department of Health. That is only a change bringing the Bill up to date, and it is really making no alteration in effect at all. Therefore, no argument can arise on it.

Amendment agreed to.