§ 22. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions regarding a review of public expenditure in Scotland.
§ Mr. MaclayThe question is under urgent consideration and I am therefore not in a position at the moment to make a statement.
§ Mr. ThomsonWill the Secretary of State tell us whether he has been instructed by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to freeze public expenditure in Scotland during 1960–61 at the level of the last financial year and, if that is so, will he give the House an assurance that he will fight this decision in view of Scotland's special need in relation to unemployment?
§ Mr. MaclayI have no intention of adding to the reply which I have already given to the hon. Member's Question, because I am not able to do so. As I have said in reply to other Questions, special considerations in Scotland are always relevant and are realised to be so.
§ Mr. RankinIs it not the case that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said in the House that United Kingdom expenditure will be frozen at the 1961 limit during 1962, and can the Secretary of State tell us whether or not that will apply to Scotland?
§ Mr. MaclayThe statement about general intention does not necessarily apply to individual details within the general intention.