HC Deb 30 May 1935 vol 302 c1296
40. Mr. DINGLE FOOT

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has een called to an article in the official journal of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board, dated 20th March, 1935, stating that we ought to see that money spent in social services is not used to employ labour on land abroad instead of on our own farm land, and that to the extent that we allow imported food to claim that market we shall only add to our unemployment problem; and whether he will advise the Board that it is undesirable that a public body, founded with a loan of public money and maintained by a statutory levy, should indulge in partisan statements and political propaganda?

The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)

I have seen the article referred to but the matter is not one which comes within my jurisdiction.

Mr. FOOT

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is properly one of the functions of the Board to publish propaganda on matters of acute political controversy?

Sir G. COLLINS

I am not called upon to adjudicate upon these matters. The Milk Marketing Board is a statutory body, and on this matter I have no power to intervene.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is a matter of common sense and not of acute political controversy?