THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNMy Lords, before the House adjourns I wish to ask a question of the noble Lord the Secretary for Scotland, of which I have given him private notice. The question is with reference to the Local Government of Scotland Bill, which your Lordships will on Thursday be asked to read a second time. My Lords, I wish for information on two points. It appears by the Bill that the number of Councillors for each county is to be fixed by the Secretary for Scotland, and I wish to ask the noble Lord whether he will lay on the Table a Paper, stating the number of County Councillors he proposes to appoint for each county? There is another matter 1696 which I think it is still more important we should have information about, and that is with regard to the number of service voters, as I believe that the number of service voters will greatly exceed the number of any other class of voters. It is very desirable your Lordships should have information on this point when you discuss the Bill.
THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, in answer to the first question which the noble Earl has put, the number of County Councillors for each county provided by the Bill to be appointed by the Secretary for Scotland has been settled, and a printed Paper giving the number has been circulated. I have given directions that the Papers showing those numbers shall be available in the Paper Office. If the noble Earl thinks it desirable that the Papers should be circulated with the other Parliamentary Papers I see no objection to that course being taken. With regard to the second question of the noble Earl, as to the service voters, I am afraid I cannot give so definite an answer. Such information as is asked for would take considerable time to prepare, and might also entail considerable expense. I am therefore not prepared to give a distinct answer at once, but I will, if possible, accede to the request of the noble Earl.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNOf course I do not wish to ask for anything that will entail great expense, but if anything even approximately full can be given us it would be valuable.
THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANDoes the noble Earl desire the information to be given in the form of Returns?