§ Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the refusal to give employment as nurse probationer in the joint hospital, Dumbarton, because an applicant was not of Protestant religion; and if he can take steps to prevent the imposition of a creed-bar in public institutions?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have made inquiry into the case referred to by my hon. Friend, and find that the facts are substantially as stated, although the clerk to the Joint Hospital Board informs me that the board does not lay down any condition as to the religious persuasion of the members of the staff, and that, as a matter of fact, they have in the past appointed both Protestants and Catholics. I agree entirely with my hon. Friend's view that there should be no creed-bar to appointments in public institutions which are supported by ratepayers of all creeds.