LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1929. (Hansard, 10 December 1935)

§ 28. Mr. WESTWOOD
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst the burghs of Scotland at the working of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929; and whether he is prepared to set up a national committee to inquire into and report on the working of that Act?

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)
The answer to the first part of the question is 721 in the affirmative. I cannot at this stage add anything to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers), on Thursday last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

§ Mr. WESTWOOD
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister's answer relates to the working of the complicated formula re the provisions of the block grant?

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I understood that the hon. Member referred to the general criticisms against the Act. No doubt he is aware that a statutory inquiry is about to be held into the financial working of the Act forthwith.

§ Mr. WESTWOOD
Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Prime Minister's answer deals with the financial working of the Act in connection with the complicated formula to which I have referred?

§ Sir A. SINCLAIR
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that dissatisfaction is by no means confined to small burghs or to the financial working of the Act, and cannot he see his way to holding a wider inquiry than that referred to by the Prime Minister?

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I can hold out no hope of a wider inquiry.

§ Mr. MATHERS
When is the inquiry likely to be completed?

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I cannot give any date, but no time will be lost.

§ 30. Mr. WESTWOOD
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the voting powers of large burgh representatives on county councils, as provided for by Section 8, sub-section (7), of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929; and will he be prepared to meet a deputation of the Large Burghs Committee of the Convention of Royal Burghs with a view to discussing ways and means of remedying the dissatisfaction and avoiding the friction between burghs and county authorities?

§ Sir G. COLLINS
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No request for a meeting on the subject has been received from the committee referred to. I should, how- 722 ever, be glad to consider any representations which they may care to submit.