asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements, if any, were made for the absorption into civilian clerical employment of a temporary nature, in his Department, of women demobilised from His Majesty's Forces (clerical units overseas or at home) from 1918 to October, 1920?

On the demobilisation of women from His Majesty's Forces a number of women (Women's Royal Naval Service) were employed in the Admiralty and their employment was continued on a civilian basis. This continuation was confined to services approaching completion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the number of women employed on the clerical staff of the Admiralty in 1918, he includes those employed in industrial establishments or other out-stations; and, if not, what was the additional number thus employed?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. 3,205 women (other than industrials) were employed at the out-port establishments on the 11th November, 1918, but it is not possible to say how many of these were employed on clerical duties.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements were made through his Department, if any, for the absorption of unemployed ex-service women clerks into the temporary Civil Service since October, 1920; and what was the number of unemployed ex-service women clerks registered at Labour Exchanges in October, 1920 and 1921, respectively?

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements were made through his Department, if any, for the absorption of ex-service women demobilised from the forces from 1918 to October, 1920, into posts in the temporary Civil Service?

Preferential treatment for ex-service women, in recruiting staff for temporary employment in Government Departments, was not specifically considered until September, 1920, when Lord Lytton's Committee on the appointment of ex-service men to the Civil Service recommended that the preferential treatment accorded to ex-service men should be extended to ex-service women. Action has been taken in accordance with this recommendation since that date. Statistics are not available as to the number of ex-service women clerks registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will furnish a Return of the cost of the Board of Control for the year 1922, including salaries, expenditure of office staff, and travelling expenses?

The total gross cost of the Board of Control for the financial year 1922–23 was approximately £470,236, less appropriations-in-aid (fees for licences, etc.) £7,756. The gross cost includes grants-in-aid to local authorities and voluntary institutions £408,791, cost of State institutions for mental defectives £26,795, salaries and expenses, etc., of head office staff £34,650.

Would not the work be carried out more economically, and with greater efficiency, if it were transferred to the right hon. Gentleman's own Ministry?

The control is attached to my Ministry now.

asked the Minister of Health what were the respective salaries of the men and women inspectors of all grades of the Insurance Department when they were appointed in 1912; what are their respective salaries now; and in what respect the work as between the men and women has varied since 1912?

With permission, I will circulate the details as to the salaries of the men and women inspectors

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of the ex-service temporary civil servants employed in his Department on clerical duties are home service and overseas, respectively; and how many are men who did not sit for the recent special establishment examinations?

The number of ex-service temporary civil servants employed at the Admiralty on clerical duties on the 1st April, 1923, was 703.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of ex-service men who have received a Government grant to enable them to finish their education at a university; how many of these have obtained a degree; of those so educated how many have applied to the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour for assistance in securing employment; how many through this agency have secured employment what was the nature of the employment thus secured; and how many are still registered with the Appointments Department awaiting employment?

The number of ex-service men who have received a Government grant to enable them to finish their education at universities or colleges of similar standing in Great Britain is approximately 19,850, of whom up to the present about 10,110 have obtained a degree or a diploma. Of the men so educated, 4,357 have registered with the Appointments Department, and 1,845 have secured employment through the agency of that department. The employment found was, generally, of a professional, technical or commercial character. There are at present 579 men so educated registered with the Appointments Department as requiring employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men who have received grants to complete their education at a university and who have registered themselves for employment through the Appointments Department have by these means received appointments as secondary school teachers, and how many as metallurgical chemists at home and abroad, respectively?

While precise figures are not available, it is known that, of the ex-service men who received grants towards their education at a university or college of similar standing in Great Britain, over 500 have been placed by the Appointments Department as secondary school teachers at home and four abroad; over 27 have been placed as metallurgical chemists at home, and one abroad. There are at present on the register of the Appointments Department 53 men so educated requiring posts as secondary school teachers and 31 requiring posts as metallurgical chemists.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total amount of public expenditure which has been incurred up to date on the training of ex-service and civilian women, respectively, for other careers than that of domestic service apart from funds provided from the Central Committee on Women's Employment, and not obtained from taxation; what figure has the total expenditure on similar training for ex-service men reached to date; and whether the non-combatant home-service men employed in such units as Army pay and records offices were eligible for the latter, and had, in fact, received them?

The expenditure incurred by my Department to date on the training of women is approximately £292,000. Separate figures are not available for the expenditure upon ex-service and non-ex-service women or upon training for domestic and other careers. The expenditure incurred by my Department to date on training ex-service men is approximately £21,600,000. In addition, considerable sums have been expended by other Government Departments upon the training of ex-officers and men. No distinction has been drawn by my Department between home and overseas service when deciding eligibility for industrial training, but the conditions laid down (such as inability on account of disablement to follow pre-War occupation) have in practice excluded nearly all home-service men.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements, if any, were made through his Department for the absorption of ex-service men, overseas and home service, respectively, demobilised from the forces from 1918 to October, 1920, into posts in the temporary Civil Service?

I have been asked to reply. In accordance with the recommendations in the Second Report, dated May, 1918, of the Gladstone Committee on the Recruitment to the Civil Service after the War, preferential treatment in filling vacancies in temporary posts in the Civil Service was accorded to such disabled and demobilised men as were from time to time available. In September, 1919, following upon the Report of the Committee on the employment of disabled men in Government Departments, steps were taken to secure employment for disabled men in each Department to a number representing not less than 8 per cent. of the temporary staff, male and female, employed on 30th June, 1919; and all future vacancies in temporary posts, other than those excepted in the Report, were reserved for disabled men, or, failing disabled men, for demobilised men. As regards the latter category, preference was given in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee to men with service overseas. The First Report, dated August, 1920, of Lord Lytton's Committee recommended the institution of Departmental Substitution Committees and a central co-ordinating body, with a view to increased substitution of the existing temporary staff by ex-service men, among whom preference was accorded in the first place to disabled men, and, in the second, to those with service overseas, and those recommendations were adopted.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire from the different boards of guardians throughout, the country how many disabled men they have afforded shelter and relief to during the last six months; and how many such men were receiving such assistance on 21st April, 1923?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to disabled ex-service men. I doubt whether it is practicable to obtain information on the lines suggested and of any value on this subject, but I will consider the matter further and communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a communication from the Poplar Board of Guardians calling his attention to the fact that the Ministry of Pensions has transferred five ex-service disabled men to the charge of the Poor Law guardians of that union, and protesting against this treatment of ex-service men and the transference of the State's obligations to the shoulders of the local authorities; and what does he propose to do in order to assist the ratepayers of the Poplar Union in this matter?

I do not appear to have received the communication to which the hon. Member refers. When it reaches me, I will give it my attention. In the meantime, I am unable to express any opinion on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the ex-service temporary civil servants employed in his Department on clerical duties are home-service and overseas, respectively; and how many are men who did not sit for the recent special establishment examinations?

Of a total of 531 ex-service temporary men clerks at present employed in the Ministry of Health, 36 are home-service men and 495 served overseas; 74 in all did not sit for the recent special establishment examination.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of money that has been expended on the Time Equation Committee of the Retail Bespoke Tailoring Trade Board; the number of tests made; the results of those tests; and why they have not been put into force?

The cost of attendance of members of the Trade Board at the Log Equation Committee has been, approximately, £150. 400 tests have been made by officers of the Department in the course of their ordinary duties, and 3,500 tests have been made without expense to the Exchequer by employers' and workers' associations. The tests do not show a result which can be stated concisely, and the detailed results were obtained in many cases in confidence. In reply to the last part of the question, the trade board have not, up to the present time, been able to reach a decision upon the use which should be made of the results of the tests.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the formation of the West of England Empire Settlement Scheme for collective migration to the Dominion of Australia; if so, whether His Majesty's Government has been asked to contribute towards the cost of the scheme; what contribution, if any, was promised; and whether he can state what progress has been made in respect of emigration under the auspices of the scheme referred to?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been called to the recent formation of a Migration Committee for Devon and Cornwall. I understand that this Committee has arranged for Lieut.-Colonel S. F. Newcombe, D.S.O., R.E., to proceed, as their representative to Western Australia, to discuss the possibility of a joint county settlement scheme with the Oversea Authorities, and that he left this country on the 9th March for this purpose. His Majesty's Government has not been asked to make any pecuniary contribution, nor have the Committee's proposals reached the stage at which any such question would arise. This matter will come up for consideration on Colonel Newcombe's return from Australia.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of juveniles is in attendance at the centres for unemployed juveniles; and whether it is the intention of the Government to renew the grant for their continuance after the 31st May?

On the 18th April, 1923—the latest date for which figures are available—8,358 juveniles were in attendance at juvenile unemployment centres. The scheme for the revival of centres was designed to prevent the deterioration of unemployed juveniles during the winter months. I propose, however, to extend the period during which grants will be payable in the case of all centres up to the 30th June next, and in those cases in which centres have only recently been opened for such further period, not beyond the 21st July next, as shall complete a period of three months.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman propose to terminate the grants on 30th June?

The scheme was designed for the winter period and the suggested limit of the training courses was three months. The large majority have come to an end before that period.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that unemployment still continues on a large scale, his Department is in possession of sufficient funds to promote whatever relief works may be necessary; and, if not, whether the Government proposes to ask the House for further allocations for this purpose in anticipation of the need which it is now clear roust exist for some time?

The funds set aside for providing Government assistance towards relief works are not administered by my Department. The question whether Parliament should be asked to place further sums at the disposal of the grant-making Departments is under consideration by the Government.

Is it not a fact that the Ministry of Labour is responsible for 150,000 men on out-relief works?

No, that is not the fact. The Departments concerned are the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Health. There is no direct responsibility on my Department for the administration of these funds, though naturally we are very closely concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the week ending 7th April, 1923, the Sheffield and Ecclesall guardians granted £8,216 in unemployment relief, and that in the following week, owing to the gap, this was increased to £13,077; and whether he proposes to arrange for any relief for this and other necessitous areas towards bearing this added burden?

There are no funds at my disposal out of which I can make any grants for the purpose suggested. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Unemployment Insurance Act recently passed made a substantial increase in the grant of unemployment benefit and reduced the gap in benefit to a fortnight, thereby giving great assistance to the ratepayers throughout the country. I would point out further that the figures quoted by the hon. Member illustrate forcibly the extent to which during the last 2½ years the unemployment insurance scheme has assisted in bearing a burden which would otherwise have fallen upon the local ratepayers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman still of opinion that the gap of a fortnight has not meant a considerable burden on local ratepayers, as he stated in Committee, and if he has no funds will he make representations to the Government that they should assist necessitous areas out of other grants from the Treasury?

As to the first part of the answer we had the matter under full discussion when the recent Insurance Act went through the House. With regard to necessitous areas I do not think that really arises out of the question, nor should it be addressed to me.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some Unemployment Exchanges are declining to grant out-of-work pay to young men over the age of 21 years and compelling parents of 60 years of age and over to maintain these adult sons; and whether this is in accordance with the Regulations?

Uncovenanted benefit is only payable if, in the opinion of the Minister, payment is expedient in the public interest. It is the rule that such benefit shall not be paid to single persons living with relatives who can reasonably be expected to support them. Each case is dealt with on its merits by the local committee, who are directed not to refuse benefit on this ground if the refusal would cause real hardship. I should add that, as I promised during the Debate on the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923, I am considering whether in present circumstances this and other rules ought to be modified in any way—and I hope to deal with this point to-morrow in the discussion on the Estimates.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case a man of 60 who is a joiner and carpenter has been called upon to maintain two sons of 25 and 30?

I was not aware, but I hope in the discussion which will arise to-morrow that sort of point may be dealt with.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed persons in the Newcastleon-Tyne area at present; how this number compares with the last three, six, and 12 months, respectively; and what diminution, if any, is attributable to the order recently given for the building of a battleship on the Tyne?

The number of persons registered at Employment Exchanges in the Newcastle area at 16th April, 1923, was 20,142, as compared with 21,447 on 1st January, 1923, 19,250 on 2nd October, 1922 and 17,904 on 3rd April, 1922. It is not possible to say what part of the recent decrease is due to the contract referred to.

What stage of the building of the battleship was reached, and what was the number of men employed?

I do not want to shirk the issue, but that question really ought to be addressed to the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Labour what amount of unemployment benefit was paid to women discharged from Government Departments in 1917 and 1918; and what, if any, facilities were available for such women at that time which were provided at the expense of the taxpayer and not by voluntary funds placed at the disposal of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment?

Prior to November, 3920, temporary Government employés, other than those in certain industrial establishments, did not come under the Unemployment Insurance scheme. Moreover, up to November, 1918, the war-time demand for labour was such that very little benefit was paid to those insured. At the end of November, 1918, the out-of-work donation scheme came into operation, and applied to civilian workers up to November, 1919, but it is not possible to say how much donation was paid to women discharged from Government Departments. So far as I am aware the State did not, prior to 1919, provide facilities for training women.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the amount of unemployment benefit and facilities of training for professional careers for temporary women clerks demobilised from the Civil Service since 1921 has been greater or less than those provided for similar women demobilised in 1917 and 1918?

Temporary women clerks discharged from Government service have since 1920 been entitled to unemployment benefit in proportion to contributions paid, and may also be granted uncovenanted benefit. Previously they were not insured against unemployment, and the only provision of this kind made for them was the out-of-work donation scheme, which applied to all civilian workers from November, 1918, to November, 1919. So far as I am aware the State did not provide facilities for training women prior to 1919.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can inform the House as to the results of the special appeal which has been made to those local authorities who have hitherto failed to place themselves on the King's Roll; and when he intends to publish the names of those authorities who have still failed to undertake this national duty?

The King's Roll National Council have not yet received all the replies to their appeal to local authorities not on the King's National Roll, and I am not, therefore, in a position to acid anything to my previous replies on this subject.

When may I put down a question to which the right hon. Gentleman will give a reply?

I do not think that there is any undue delay. The matter is necessarily in the hands of the King's Roll National Council. They are discovering, as I discovered, that there are difficulties in the matter. I would suggest that the hon. Gentleman should put himself in touch with the Vice-Chairman of the King's Roll National Council, who is a Member of this House, and then the matter might be accelerated.

What are the difficulties?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the uncovenanted benefit of L. R. Briggs, of 9, South Street, Egremont, Cumberland, has been suspended by the manager of the Cleator Moor Employment Exchange on the ground that he is residing with relatives to whom he can reasonably look for support; that the average earnings of this man's father are 30s. per week; that he has seven children and a wife dependent upon him; and that he has had nearly two years of unemployment; and, in view of the situation of his family, will he have Briggs's case reconsidered?

I am having immediate inquiries made into this case and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that amongst unemployed women clerks resident in Richmond there is a feeling that they cannot expect fair treatment in future through the Richmond Exchange, having regard to the attacks recently made on the employment of women as clerks by the local employment committee; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

I have not been made aware of any feeling on the part of women clerks resident in Richmond that their treatment at the Richmond Employment Exchange would be otherwise than impartial. I may add that I am asking the local employment committee to consider whether, having regard to the industrial circumstances of the district, it is desirable that further representation on the committee should be accorded to organisations of women workers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details of wages paid to employés in the nine principal industries of the country in 1913, and to date; and if he will state what action he is taking to adjust the wages in those industries where the increase has not been in keeping with the cost of living, and where the numerical strength of their trade unions nor the Trade Wages Board have been able to give such proper protection to the relativity of their wages?

A special article giving comparative information, so far as available, as to the rates of wages paid in the principal industries at the beginning of August, 1914, and at the end of March, 1923, is published in the current issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no authority to take action of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. Except in the case of trades the conditions in which make it necessary to establish Trade Boards for the purpose of fixing minimum rates of wages, the policy of the Government is to leave employers and workers free themselves to settle the conditions in their industries.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the serious overlapping occurring in the provision of the various health and public welfare services, he will appoint a Committee of Inquiry in order that by means of better co-ordination more satisfactory services can be secured in return for the expenditure incurred by the Ministries of Health, Pensions, and Labour, the Boards of Education and Trade, and the Home Office, in these matters?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lincoln on the 7th March last.

Can the hon. Gentleman call the Prime Minister's attention to the fact that this matter has been deferred for some years now, and is it not possible to expedite a decision?

The hon. Member must be aware that there is a Committee sitting at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will, when submitting their proposals for the relief of agriculture, provide that the farm labourer shall in no case be paid a rate of wages less than that of the terms arrived at in the recent settlement in Norfolk?

I have been asked to reply. It is proposed to introduce a Bill to amend Section 4 of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921, which deals with the formation of conciliation committees in agriculture with a view to making compulsory the registration of agreements arrived at by conciliation committees. These agreements are, however, of a voluntary nature, and the Government cannot impose a condition such as is suggested by the hon. Member.

Are we to understand that the Government do not consider it necessary to inquire into the wages paid to farm labourers while they are inquiring into the agricultural position?

That was not my statement.

Will this Section apply to Scotland?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister if an import duty was charged by the French Government during the War on munitions sent from Great Britain to France for the use of British troops in France; if so, what was the amount of the duty and what was the total sum paid in such duties; and if the British Government were charged the cost of transporting these munitions over the French railways, and, if so, what was the sum paid?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise. As regards the third part, the British Government were charged the cost in question as part of the general French claim for transportation services, but details showing the amount included on account of the transportation of munitions are not available. The question of the general settlement with the French Government for transportation services is still under consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the contractor stated in a Conservative newspaper last Saturday that an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. was charged on munitions imported into France?

That is quite without foundation.

Is it not a fact that the French Government gave reduced fares to the military who were travelling?

asked the Prime Minister if any offer was made by British Ministers to cancel Allied debts; whether such cancellation was contingent on reparations being received by Great Britain from Germany; what share under this suggested offer would Great Britain receive; and how would such sum compare with the British debt to America?

If the right hon. Member has in mind the conference at Paris in January, the answer to the first part of his question is in the affirmative, subject to the point that it was the net Allied Debts we were prepared to cancel; the answer to the second part is in the affirmative; the answer to the third and fourth parts is that we estimated at Paris that we should receive approximately 18 milliard gold marks against a debt, to America of 20 milliards, say 900 million pounds as against 1,000 million pounds. Fuller information on all these points will be found in Command Paper 1812

Does that mean that we shall have to pay, supposing the proposals of His Majesty's Government were accepted, £100,000 more than we receive?

asked the Prime Minister if any responsible offer has been made to pay reasonable War reparation by the German Government; if so, what sum was offered; and what is the sum His Majesty's Government consider it is within Germany's capacity to pay?

Is not the word "reasonable" in this question controversial, as to what is reasonable, and would it not be better to leave it out of the question?

In asking this question may I say that "reasonable" is not a stunt word?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is not aware of any offer which is not already public property. He sees no use in considering whether the offers in March and April, 1921, were responsible and reasonable at the time they were made. They are two years old and subject to conditions, e.g., as regards Silesia which cannot now be fulfilled. The German tentative plan of December, 1922, and his reply that it could not be considered satisfactory have been published (Command Paper 1812, pages 57 to 60). In the same Paper, page 68, and in his reply to the hon. Member for East Dorset on the 19th March last, my right hon. Friend has given all the information he has about the German overture at Paris which did not become an offer for the reasons he has repeatedly stated. As regards the third part of the question, the sum which we considered in January to be within Germany's capacity to pay was £2,500,000,000. Whether subsequent events have reduced that capacity is a matter which my right hon. Friend would want thoroughly examined by experts before coming to any conclusion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that large numbers of people from the Western Highlands of Scotland have recently emigrated; whether the Government have received a memorial from the Highland and Islands Committee of the Free Church in relation thereto, embodying their views regarding the agricultural and industrial development of the High lands; and whether the Government propose to take action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that a considerable number of people have recently gone to Canada from the Western Islands. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. My Noble Friend has agreed to receive a deputation next month from the Highlands and Islands Committee of the Free Church on the subject of the memorial.

Does not the serious de-population of the Western Highlands and the driving away of the best of Scottish manhood from that part of the country call for the special consideration and immediate attention of the Government?

This Committee asked my right hon. Friend if he would receive them, and he has fully met their request.

Is it not the case that arrangements have been made for the continuance of this stream of emigration, and is it not desirable under the circumstances to take immediate steps to deal with it?

The hon. Member must put that question on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the visit of an English bishop to Bucharest in January for the purpose of promoting the suggested union between the Anglican and Eastern Churches was regarded by Rumanian opinion as an attempt by His Majesty's Government to influence political and economic conditions in Eastern Europe; that a number of protests were published; and Whether His Majesty's Government have given any support or approval to the efforts of English ecclesiastics for the union of the Anglican and Rumanian Churches?

I understand that the Bishop of Gibraltar, in the exercise of his diocesan duties, visited certain Balkan States in the autumn of last year, and that some ill-informed and mischievous comments have since been made on the visit in one or two Rumanian newspapers, alleging the existence of a plan for a union between the Anglican and the Orthodox Churches. The idea that the Bishop was acting in any way whatever on behalf of His Majesty's Government, or that the latter attempted through him to exercise influence of any sort in Eastern Europe, is not only untrue, but is too absurd to have imposed upon any persons not wholly ignorant both of the Anglican Church and of the methods of the British Government.

Does the diocese of the Bishop of Gibraltar extend as far as the Balkan States? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]

Is it not a fact that the Anglican Church does not, and never has interfered in any shape or form in international politics?

Is it not desirable that when these events give rise to such unfounded rumours as have been spreading through Rumania recently, that they should be expressly denied by His Majesty's Government?

Certainly, and I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for giving me an opportunity to do so.

Are we to understand that there is no connection between His Majesty's Foreign Office and the Anglican Church?

asked the Minister of Health how many women physicians are at present acting as panel doctors?

The total number of women medical practitioners engaged in insurance work in England and Wales is 215.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that 2, Lonsdale Street, Bradford, rateable value £13 5s., is let by the owner as follows: living-room 32s. per week, two bedrooms 22s. per week, attic 17s. a week, or a total of 93s. weekly; and whether, in view of this evidence of profiteering made possible by the housing shortage, he will consider the introduction of preventive legislation?

I have no knowledge of the particular case referred to. I am considering the question of profiteering, together with others arising out of the operation of the Rent Restrictions Act, in the light of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee which reported in February last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry into this particular case?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to give me particulars, I will make inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses required in England and Scotland in 1919, according to the Return made by local authorities, the estimated annual requirements thereafter according to the same Return, and the number completed since or in course of construction?

As regards England and Wales, I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newcastle West last Thursday. For the figure relating to Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health.