§ 32. Mr. McKinlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that one rubber stamp was issued for the re-registration of the population of the County of Dunbarton and two for the City of Glasgow with over r,000,000 residents; and if any action has been taken to deal with the persons responsible?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston)It is presumed that the hon. Member refers to the metal code stamps which were issued to local National Registration officers in connection with the re-issue of identity cards. The actual number issued for the County of Dunbarton was three, and for the City of Glasgow nine. In each case the supply provided seems to have been adequate.
§ Mr. McKinlayIs there any reason why I should not get an answer to my Question? I am asking about the original issue of stamps. Two were allocated to 679 Glasgow, one to Dunbarton County and one to the County of Aberdeen. Has anything been done to deal with the person responsible for such a scheme, because the nine stamps were issued after a protest had been made?
§ Mr. JohnstonThat is not the information with which I have been supplied. My information is that the National Registration officer for the City of Glasgow originally asked for six stamps, and this number was supplied. Some weeks later an additional number of stamps became available, and three more were sent to Glasgow.
§ Mr. McKinlayI would ask the Secretary of State to make inquiries as to the numbers originally allocated. Does he think it right to ask 20,000 or 30,000 people to travel from one end of the county to another for the simple purpose of having a stamp affixed to their registration cards?
§ Mr. JohnstonThe last part of the supplementary has no relation to the original Question, and I have no information on the point. I have given all the information at my disposal with regard to the allocation of stamps, and if my hon. Friend will give me information to the contrary, I will inquire into it.