9. Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many man-hours were involved in the production of the recently published "Scottish Budget".
§ Mr. DiamondDepartments have not kept a detailed record of their work on this question, but I estimate that the time spent amounted to approaching 800 man-hours, excluding secretarial services and the printing of the report by the Stationery Office.
§ Mr. DiamondCertainly. The exercise achieved the normal one of supplying the answer to Members of Parliament who have asked for this specific information.
§ Mr. LawsonHas not the exercise helped to dispel the harmful fallacy, which was given widespread currency in Scotland, that Scotland was subsidising England?
§ Mr. DiamondIt is not for me to inquire the reasons why hon. Members put Questions down, but I do my best to answer them.
§ Mrs. EwingIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the "Scottish Budget" was inspired guesswork against the background of admitted ignorance of Scotland's vital statistics? Will he explain why the findings of the Catto Commission in 1952 were not adopted to provide a proper basis for a breakdown of the Scottish figures, and will he provide that basis for future years?
§ Mr. DiamondThe information which has been given has been valuable. It has taken a great deal of time. It is most unfair of the hon. Lady to suggest that it was not carefully done. It was carefully done to satisfy those hon. Members who had asked for the information.