§ 26. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the £60,000 allocated to Scotland for the relief of distressed areas is to be distributed; which of the local authorities are to receive allocations from the grant; how much will be given to each authority; and is he aware of the dissatisfaction among public assistance authorities in Scotland regarding the inadequacy of the allocation?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)The grant of £60,000 will be distributed in accordance with a formula based on information about to be obtained from the areas concerned by means of special returns of their expenditure on poor relief, etc.
Until these returns have been received and scrutinised it is impossible to state definitely which areas will participate or the amount which each will receive.
But I am sending the hon. Member a note showing which areas are expected to share in the grant and what are their estimated shares.
As regards the last part of the question I have received representations as to the amount of money that has been voted for the purpose, but there is no foundation for the suggestion that Scotland is not getting a fair share of the grant and I cannot see my way to ask Parliament to increase it.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to the latter part of my question:
Is he aware of the dissatisfaction among public assistance authorities in Scotland regarding the inadequacy of the allocation?
§ Sir G. COLLINSMy countrymen are always dissatisfied with the amount of money allocated.
§ Mr. KIRKWOOD rose—
§ Mr. KIRKWOODOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe House is getting into a bad habit in regard to asking supplementary questions.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI have only asked one supplementary question, and these people are asking four or five supplementary questions every day.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member shall have one more.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThe supplementary question I wish to put is this. Is the Secretary of State for Scotland aware that it comes very ill from him to state in the British House of Commons that his fellow-countrymen are never satisfied?
§ Sir G. COLLINSMy reply was based on the fact that I am a Scottish subject, and that is why I gave expression to what I considered to be Scottish views.