§ 3. Mr. McGOVERNasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his attention has been drawn to the defalcations in the assessor's department of the Glasgow Corporation where employés have tampered with and reduced the valuation of properties in the city without the knowledge or consent of the assessor; and what action, if any, he proposes to take?
§ Mr. WESTWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My right hon. Friend has no control over the proceedings of the assessor or his staff.
§ Mr. McGOVERNAs I understand that these valuations have to be approved by the Scottish Office, may I ask whether it is the fact that 61 valuations have been reduced by these employés, that the cost to the city was £13,000 to restore them, and that important papers were stolen and valuations obliterated by these employés; and whether the hon. Gentleman does not consider that the Scottish Office should take action with a view to setting up a complete Governmental inquiry into these allegations?
§ Mr. WESTWOODAll I can say is that, according to the advice given to me, the Department has no control over the assessor. It is an appointment made by the town council, and under the complete supervision of the town council.
§ Mr. McGOVERNIf the Scottish Office has to approve of these valuations; if, after they have been approved by the Scottish Office, those employés, behind its back, have been reducing these valuations, and if the claim is made by the assessor that a sum of money has changed hands, does not the hon. Gentleman think that the Scottish Office ought to take action to see that these values should not be tampered with?
§ Mr. WESTWOODI shall certainly have inquiries made into the point raised, and see if it is possible for anything to be done.