§ 45. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Prime Minister whether he will provide time for a discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Fife, on the subject of the duties, powers and authority vested in the Secretary of State for Scotland?
[That, in view of the greatly-increased responsibilities placed in recent years upon the Secretary of State for Scotland without commensurate addition to the staff attached to his office, of the continued unsatisfactory state of economic and social conditions, and of the urgent need for comprehensive schemes of national development in Scotland, this House, bearing in mind that the Report of the 395 Committee on Scottish Administration presented to Parliament in 1937 dealt only with the form and inter-relations of the various Departments under the control of the Secretary of State, is of opinion that the time has come for an examination of the duties, powers, and authority vested in the Secretary of State and urges the immediate appointment of a Joint Committee to inquire into these and related matters and to recommend what changes, legislative or otherwise, should be made with a view to equipping the Secretary of State adequately for the tasks confronting him.]
§ The Prime MinisterI regret that I can hold out no hope of time being found for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.
Mr. StewartWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with or call for a report from the Secretary of State for Scotland, and various ex-Secretaries of State for Scotland who are now Members of the House, in order to satisfy himself of the need and urgency for an inquiry of the nature suggested in this Motion?