§ 37. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that while certain small burghs in Fife granted 2s. 6d. to old age pensioners, the Fife County Council refused to make a similar grant to the villagers in the landward area; and will he take steps to rectify this injustice to the old people in these Fife villages?
Mr. WedderburnI am aware that the Coronation celebrations in certain small burghs in Fife included special payments to old age pensioners and that the celebrations carried out by the county council in the landward area did not include such payments. The nature of the special arrangements made for the celebration of the Coronation in each locality is primarily a matter for the local authority, and I have no power to take steps as suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not possible for the Minister to make a recommendation to the County Council that these old age pensioners should get half-a-crown? Is it not a shame that much of the money raised should be spent in decorations in Cupar, at the expense of the old folk, and will the Minister make a recommendation?
Viscountess AstorDoes not the Minister think, seeing that there is a Communist who wants to celebrate the King's Coronation, that something ought to be done?
§ Mr. GallacherI am thinking of the old folk.