§ The Prime MinisterI should like, with permission, to make a statement on the conclusions which the Government have reached on the principal recommendations in the Report of the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs.
The Commission was charged with the duty of reviewing the arrangements for the exercise of the functions of Her Majesty's Government in relation to Scotland and, after careful examination, the Commission, in general, has endorsed the existing arrangements.
The Commission proposed, however, that the responsibilities of the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in Scotland for roads, piers and ferries, the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor for the appointment of justices of the peace, and the responsibilities of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for animal health, should all be transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The Government accept these proposals and, at the appropriate time, will ask Parliament to approve them. The 570 only qualification I need mention is that, for the reasons given in the recent Report of the Departmental Committee on Foot and Mouth Disease, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will remain responsible for the operational control of epidemic diseases among animals throughout Great Britain. The control of policy in regard to such diseases will be exercised by the Secretary of State and the Minister, acting jointly.
The Commission made a number of recommendations of an administrative character, designed to increase the amount of Scottish business which the United Kingdom and Great Britain Departments can settle in Scotland. I might mention that the United Kingdom Departments include Northern Ireland and that the Great Britain Departments do not. The Government are in full accord with the objectives of the Commission and hope to be able to give effect to most of their detailed recommendations.
§ Mr. WoodburnMay I say that Scotland has received this Report with what might be described as subdued enthusiasm. Nevertheless, in the last paragraph of the Prime Minister's statement, there may be many items which, in the long run, will give cumulative satisfaction to Scotland when administrative devolution takes place. There are some disappointments in regard to the Report which, in its context, seems to suggest that the work of the Ministry of Works, in Scotland, should be transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that point has been considered?
On the question of the transfer of highways, roads, piers, and so on, a point which is of great interest to Scotland is whether bridges and tunnels are included, and especially whether the Secretary of State will now have control over the priorities that will decide when permission will be given to build, say, the Forth Road Bridge, which is a matter of great interest in Scotland at the moment. At the time the Royal Commission was announced the Government stated that they reserved to themselves the right to make proposals for legislative devolution. I should be glad if the Prime Minister could say whether that question has been considered and whether the Government intend to bring forward any proposals?
§ The Prime MinisterI am only concerned today with informing the House of our views upon the recommendations of the Commission, and I would not be prepared, without further notice, to deal with the very many topics upon which it has made recommendations, or positive recommendations. All subjects were exhaustive and searchingly considered and, of course, any topic which is not included in the recommendations which have been made and which we have accepted can be raised here by Question and answer, or by the usual procedure, with the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Therefore, I will not attempt to go into particular points outside the limits of the answer it has fallen to me to give. I would like to examine the point about the tunnels and bridges because it is a detail into which I have not been called upon to enter, but it would seem to me to be very much akin to the general control of ferries, roads and other passages of transport.
§ Mr. ElliotWill my right hon. Friend take note that hon. Members on this side of the House will be very glad indeed to give every support to the programme as it is being put through? In particular, we are grateful that the operational control of epidemic diseases has been preserved for the United Kingdom to handle, because we believe that such diseases are much better administered from a single centre than they possibly can be by divided control. Is my right hon. Friend able to say how much of this programme will require legislation and how much of it will be possible to carry out by administrative action?
§ The Prime MinisterWe shall, naturally, have as little legislation as possible and do all we can by administrative action.
§ Mr. GrimondIs the Prime Minister aware that the enthusiasm with which these proposals have been received in Scotland has been so subdued as not to 572 be noticeable? They by no means satisfy the many people of all parties who desire Scotland to have more control over her own affairs. If they are to be at all effective surely some reorganisation of the Scottish Office is required, rather than the transfer to it of additional work without, apparently, any additional powers.
§ Sir R. BoothbyIs my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) is quite wrong, and that these proposals of the Government will not only give great satisfaction throughout Scotland but will also give encouragement to the members of those other Royal Commissions whose reports have not been considered for several years, and who are beginning to feel a little disheartened?
§ Mr. RankinIs the Prime Minister aware that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Sir R. Boothby) is quite wrong?
§ Several Hon. Members rose——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We cannot debate this matter now. We must await the legislation.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs it not possible to ask the Prime Minister about the possibility of granting a day to debate all these questions? I am afraid that the Leader of the House will not be able to discuss the allocation of a day this Session, but may I ask the Prime Minister whether consideration will be given next Session to the provision of a day for a preliminary discussion of these matters?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are always days appropriated for Scottish affairs, but there is also the debate on the Address, which the House, to a very large extent, disposes of itself. I do not think that that fact should be overlooked.
§ Several Hon. Members rose——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We cannot debate these proposals now.