36. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce legislation to raise the existing public library rate limit.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Buchanan)As he explained on 2nd July, 1946, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), my right hon. Friend intends, before legislation is prepared to give the Advisory Council on Education, as soon as it is reconstituted, a remit on library provision generally.
Lieut.-Commander HutchisonDoes the hon. Gentleman not realise that this matter is urgent, as the library authorities are faced with paying increased salary scales under the award of the Joint Industrial Council, and this money can only be met by reducing the expenditure on books?
§ Mr. BuchananI do not deny that it is urgent, but both the hon. and gallant Gentleman and I know of much more urgent matters than that in Scotland at the present time.