§ 3. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the agreement reached at a meeting in Wick in January, when the Under-Secretary of State and the General Officer Commanding in Scotland met representatives of the Territorial Forces Association, the Provost and Town Clerk of Wick and the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, for the partial use, by the people of Wick, of the Rifle Hall which they built and paid for; why it has not been carried out; and what steps he intends to take to honour the agreement.
§ Mr. HeadYes, Sir. I was informed by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State that there had been difficulties and he went personally to Wick to try to settle them. This he hoped had been achieved, but since the meeting I understand that the local Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association state that there was some misapprehension. I am trying to sort it out.
§ Sir D. RobertsonWill my right hon. Friend expedite this, because it is six months since this meeting took place and it is not right that the people who bought 1024 and paid for this hall for joint use by themselves and the military should be totally excluded from it. That did not happen in two world wars. Why should it happen in peace?
§ Mr. HeadI can assure my hon. Friend that I am trying to sort it out, but it is difficult to get things sorted out quickly when there is something of a deadlock locally.