§ 36. Mr. MILLARasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state, before the end of this Session of Parliament, what steps he proposes to take, in consultation with the Ministry of Labour, to expedite consideration of Scottish unemployment relief schemes; and whether he will appoint a consultative committee, representative of Scottish local authorities, to assist in this matter, on the lines proposed at the recent conference of local authorities held in Edinburgh?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONAs indicated in my answer of the 24th instant, I am in consultation with the Ministry of Labour regarding various suggestions for expediting consideration of Scottish unemployment relief schemes, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to make a statement on the subject.
§ Mr. MILLARIs the Under-Secretary of State aware of the urgency of this matter, and does he know that the local authorities are waiting? Can he not give a definite answer to the second part of the question relating to the suggestion of appointing a consultative committee representing all the Scottish local authorities?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThat is precisely the point on which I have given an answer.