§ 43. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the text of his letter to the county council of Angus regarding test work at Montrose; whether the county council refuse to carry out the terms of that letter; and if he will state if he proposes taking any further action?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter sent to the county council by the Department of Health for Scotland and of the correspondence that has since taken place. The Department's letter indicated that in the opinion of the Scottish Law Officers the arrangements in operation at Montrose for setting to work able-bodied applicants for relief were illegal and called on the county council to terminate them. As regards the last part of the question, pending the receipt of a final reply from the county council, my right hon. Friend is unable to say what further action, if any, will be necessary.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the Under-Secretary say what is to happen to poor applicants who refuse to do an illegal task? The law has said that this work is illegal. If poor people refuse to do what has been declared illegal, will the hon. Member's Department see that some provision is made for those poor people who refuse to do an illegal task?
§ Mr. SKELTONI will consider that question, and, if the hon. Member will repeat it at a date not far ahead, I think that I shall be able to give him more particulars.