§ 13. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that certain public assistance committees, including Greenock and Glasgow, have taken into account in certain cases the first 7s. payable under the National Health Insurance Act; and, seeing that this practice is contrary to that Act, what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. SKELTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, the Department of Health for Scotland have already been in communication on the matter with certain Poor Law authorities, including Glasgow and Greenock, and on any further cases being brought to the notice of the Department, they will not fail to call the attention of the local authorities concerned to the illegality in question.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn view of the fact that this illegality has continued for some time, and is in direct defiance of the Statute, does not the hon. Gentleman propose to follow the ordinary procedure in cases where people deliberately defy a statute, that is, institute a prosecution?
§ Mr. SKELTONI do not think the question of a prosecution yet arises. I do not think the methods of peaceful persuasion are yet exhausted.
§ Mr. BUCHANANSeeing that poor people have been deliberately refused their rights under Statute and that this 931 has been going on for years, will the hon. Gentleman consider whether it is not time to undertake a prosecution in one case?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANAs money has been taken from the applicants, will the hon. Gentleman see that it is refunded to them by the public assistance committees?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat is an entirely different question, of which I ought to have notice.