§ 38. Mr. ERNEST BROWNasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Yarmouth Naval Hospital Bill was submitted to the General Board of Control for Scotland; whether that board approved of the Bill; and whether, if the board did not approve, he will state the grounds of the board's disapproval?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. William Adamson)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that the responsibility for decisions on questions of policy rests with me as the responsible Minister, and it would be contrary to practice to disclose correspondence or 969 other communications between myself and any of my Departments on such questions. I may say that having carefully considered the interests of all those who may be affected by the Bill in so far as Scotland is concerned the Bill had my full concurrence.
§ Mr. BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the House was assured that the evidence available from the Board of Control was in favour of the Bill; and, since the Minister in charge of the Bill has stated what the board said on the matter, are not Members of the House entitled to know the terms on which that answer was based?