asked the Minister of National Insurance how many aged and sick people on the Assistance Board's registers in Glasgow received special grants for clothing and other goods in kind between July and 31st December, 1948, and what was the cost of the same; and how many were assisted with such aid by Glasgow Corporation and what was the cost of the same over a comparable period when the charge for such assistance to the aged and sick was met by local rating.

Separate figures for the aged and sick are not available but during the period 5th July to 21st December last 3,437 grants for clothing, bedding, etc., to the total amount of £14,660 were made to persons receiving National Assistance in Glasgow. There are no comparable figures available in respect of grants by the Corporation as they ceased to be responsible for old age pensioners as long ago as 1940.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the last six months, when we had the responsibility for supplying clothing to the aged and sick, Glasgow Corporation spent £50,000? Is he further aware that there is a serious shortage of supplies of clothing for the aged people in the City of Glasgow, and that the promise made by himself and the Department was that the people would be no worse off when they were transferred from the local authority to the national authority? May I ask him if, under the powers in the Act, he will consider with the local authority the possibility of making bulk purchases, so that the aged and the sick can be supplied more regularly with essentials?

I should be glad to discuss this matter with my hon. Friend. As he knows, this was particularly a Glasgow institution. I have given the figures for which he asked. On the larger question he raised, I will discuss that with him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what decision has now been reached as to the incorporation of those persons previously employed by the friendly societies in the new National Insurance Scheme.

Arrangements for providing employment in the Ministry for friendly and approved society staffs who were engaged on the work of National Health Insurance were made in accordance with the report of the Advisory Committee which I set up to inquire into this matter. A copy of the Report is in the Library of the House. Established posts were offered to some 96 per cent. of the permanent staff who applied for transfer and in addition a large number of temporary staff have been given temporary employment.

Can the Minister say what he will do about the others who are not employed, for there are something like 200 of them; and is he aware that Socialist candidates at the last Election, in a written pledge, agreed to the employment of these people. What will he do about those who are not being employed?

I have nothing to do with that. In the case of persons who have not been found employment or not found suitable, there are provisions, if they are qualified, for compensation in regulations already laid before and approved by the House.

Are we to understand that the 4 per cent. who were not found employment under the national authority have been refused because they have been found unsuitable?

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. I said 96 per cent. of them had applied.

Can my right hon. Friend tell the House the total percentage of those so displaced by the new Act who have now been given full employment?

The number absorbed into our Ministry is about 4,700 permanent appointments and about 2,000 temporary appointments.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why a woman, who is in receipt of widow's pension under the Contributory Pensions Acts, and who is off work due to illness, is refused any temporary increase in her pension on the ground that during her absence she is receiving some payment of salary from her employer.

I am collecting further details about the case which I understand the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, and I shall be happy to discuss it with him as soon as I have the necessary information.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why a woman who is entitled to the widowed mother's allowance, and who is in employment, is not eligible for sickness benefit when off work due to illness.

A woman who is entitled to widowed mother's allowance and is in employment receives the allowance in full for any week during which her earnings are interrupted on account of sickness, but is precluded by the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations from receiving sickness benefit at the same time. Copies of these regulations and the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on them are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether any decision has yet been taken to include tuberculosis contracted by nurses in the course of their employment in the list of Industrial Diseases under the National Insurance (Industrial Diseases) Act.

No, Sir. The hon. Member will be aware, however, that the Departmental Committee on Industrial Diseases has recently submitted its Report, and I shall take an early opportunity of consulting the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the matter in the light of the Committee's Report.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether any action has been taken regarding the recommendation of the Dale Committee to set up an Advisory Standing Committee to inquire into the question of revising the current list of industrial diseases.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. R. Williams) on 25th January, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the exacting administrative duties centralised on the headquarters of the Ministry of National Insurance in Newcastle, and the serious delays caused in most districts in meeting claims, he will consider establishing regional offices in Scotland, Wales, London and such other areas in England as may be determined by population and efficiency.

The work now being done at Newcastle consists mainly of keeping the contribution records of insured persons, and I do not think it would make for greater efficiency to distribute it among a number of regional offices as my hon. Friend suggests. I would add that complaints of general delay have in fact been few but if my hon. Friend has any special cases in mind perhaps he will let me have the details.

asked the Minister of Labour why German women can obtain permission to enter this country to work in domestic service but are unable to obtain permission to enter this country to work in export industries.

After consultation with other Ministers concerned, I am prepared to consider applications from employers for permission to employ Germans, either men or women, generally, subject of course to the usual safeguards.

Does that mean that the employer must have a particular German woman in mind before he applies, or can he apply to the Ministry to employ a German woman who would then be recruited in Germany?

No, we do not undertake recruitment in these special circumstances; he must have a person in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed in the horticultural industry in Cornwall to the latest available date.

Separate figures are not available for the horticultural industry as such. The latest available figures for farm workers and gardeners are: Farm and market garden work, 89 men and 12 women and for gardening and nursery work (including job gardening) 26 men.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bring this to the notice of the Minister of Food?

While I am obliged to the Minister for having sent me the December figures during the Recess, as I requested, since these show a noticeable increase on the September figures, would he be so good as to give this matter constant and special attention?

It is having consideration. The problem is that at this period of the year there is unemployment in agriculture.

Would it help to reduce the numbers of those unemployed if the Minister of Agriculture adopted a more sympathetic attitude to the request of the broccoli industry for additional protection from foreign imports?

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the factories inspectors in Wales are Welsh speaking.

I understand that four of the inspectors at present especially concerned with factories in Wales speak Welsh.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of certain local authorities of arranging that Christmas and New Year holidays should be more generous in the case of employees who were members of their trade unions; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to prevent such discrimination.

I am not aware of such practices by local authorities and the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Has not the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to a much publicised decision of a rural district council in County Durham recently—a Labour-dominated council—and does he not think he should look into it further and take steps to prevent this discrimination being repeated?

I repeat what I said, that I am not aware of such practices. If the hon. Member will be good enough to let me have particulars of them, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the unfilled demand for skilled labour in Scotland at the latest available date; and what steps are being taken to meet it.

On 19th January there were vacancies for 18,500 men and women in Scotland. Without detailed inquiries I cannot say how many of these were for skilled workers. Where vacancies for skilled workers on essential work cannot be filled locally, and local accommodation is likely to be available, they are circulated to other areas for offer to suitable workers.

Can the Minister say how many of those vacancies are available to the 164 engineers dismissed from the Tullos factory in Aberdeen?

Any one of these vacancies is available for any person who has the skill and the opportunity of getting to the locality.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, in connection with redundancy in the Hillington Industrial Estate; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the redundancies which have occurred recently at the Hillington Industrial Estate. Workers who have become redundant are being given the assistance of the Employment Exchange service to find other work and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who is doing everything within his power to provide more employment in the area.

Is the Minister aware that the district committee of the Engineers Union is very concerned about what is happening in Hillington and, in view of the statement made by the Leader of the House in Glasgow on Sunday that there was no unemployment in this country, will he see that these men are placed in jobs at the earliest possible moment?

It is our task to put the men into jobs as early as it is possible to place them; but we cannot, of course, retain men on jobs where there is no work for them to do.

asked the Minister of Labour why Mr. D. F. T. Abell who is now engaged on the second year course of training as a dental student and due to take his 2nd B.D.S. examination in June, is not being allowed continued deferment of military service so that he may complete his course; and if he will review this decision as being contrary to the announced policy of allowing students to complete professional training before doing their National Service.

In view of the revised arrangements contemplated, I have now reconsidered this case and am prepared to grant Mr. Abell deferment to pursue his studies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether men called up for service in the Armed Forces in, or before, August, 1947, will be released in time to commence their studies in the beginning of October, 1949.

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the programme of releases from the Forces which I announced on 18th January last in reply to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd), men called up before August, 1947, will ordinarily be released before the end of September, 1949. Men called up in August, 1947, will ordinarily be released not later than the end of October, 1949, but the actual dates of release will in many cases be earlier. Any intending students called up in August, 1947, who find that they are not due for normal release in time to start their studies next autumn will be allowed early release, if applied for by their university or college.

Does that mean that anyone who wants to start his studies at the Manchester School of Technology in the first week of October, although called up in August, 1947, will be released towards the end of September so that he can present himself there in October?

This generally applies to colleges, but our arrangements are not definitely complete yet and we are endeavouring to obtain exactly the same results.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an estimate of the number of men likely to be called up in Scotland for military service in 1949.

Approximately 17,000.

Does that include building workers?

I thought that building workers were included amongst workers generally.

In view of the shortage of building workers, emphasised by the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland last Friday, will the Minister consider postponing the call-up of building workers?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost to local authorities of houses built over the last 30 years on suitable dates.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Report of the Scottish Building Costs Committee and would refer him to the very full information on this subject in the Appendices I and IV.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far he can encourage the permanent nontraditional type of house to meet local authority needs in Scotland; and if he is satisfied that the Scottish house of this type is superior to those imported and cheaper in price.

Except for types which make heavy demands on steel and other scarce materials, consideration is given to proposals for all types of approved non-traditional houses providing that they are competitive in price. Imported houses are not in substitution to the home production but a welcome addition.

Is it not a fact that the imported houses are very much more expensive than the Scottish produced house; and does not my right hon. Friend consider that the Scottish factories are placed in a very awkward position if they are given orders spasmodically and not for mass production?

In reply to the first part of the question, in some districts there is not a great deal of difference in the price. In the Highlands, of course, all houses are much dearer than in the Lowlands because of the special conditions. I think the other point arises on a later Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there are 1,530 applications for homes before the Burgh of Barrhead; that last year's 40 completed houses were sufficient only to re-house those living in condemned property; that the present rate of building is insufficient to meet normal wastage; that although 140 houses are now being built they are not enough to house the homeless; and if he will now give permission to the Council to build at once all houses for which plans have been approved.

I am aware that the Burgh of Barrhead has had a need for houses for a great many years and regret that the building trade has not found it possible to complete more than 40 out of the 180 houses in hand. To start more houses than can be completed would cause delay by tying up materials needed to finish the houses under construction. In the meantime the Council are getting an allocation of 30 Blackburn houses which will supplement local building capacity. The Council are free to get all the houses under construction completed as soon as possible. They have recently been authorised to start another 20 and will secure further permission as they progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is a waiting list of 2,000 for homes in Renfrew who have qualified under the stipulation of 10 years' residence, and a further list of those with less than 10 years' residence; that only 122 houses have been built in the Burgh in 2½ years; that the Council had been prevented from going ahead with building by the sterilising of housing ground in the vicinity of the airfield, and could not build for workers at Hillington because of the extension of the Airport; and if he will take steps to get all difficulties removed at the earliest possible moment to enable the Burgh of Renfrew to proceed with their housing programme.

There have been difficulties in making available land for housing but these have so far been resolved. On behalf of the Town Council the District Valuer is now negotiating for the acquisition of three areas in the Blythswood Estate extending to 41, 18 and 88 acres. The Town Council have 160 houses under construction, mostly at the earliest stage, and they have recently accepted 40 Blackburn houses which are to be started as soon as possible. In addition they will be authorised to start 150 more houses in approved contracts as progress is made with those houses now building.

Would the Secretary of State say a word or two about the great difficulty of the sterilisation of land around the airport because that is a matter which seems to be upsetting local authorities in Renfrew very much; and is he aware of the very great disappointment of those local authorities because they are unable to get on with housing and feel that they are being frustrated by the policy of the Government?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be misinformed for, of course, all these areas have houses to build and we are very anxious that they should get them completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were built for letting purposes by private speculators between 1918 and 1939; and how many for similar purpose built by local authorities in Scotland.

The number of houses built for private owners between 1918 and 1939 inclusive was 107,000 of which 8,000 were for letting. In the same period 227,300 houses were built for letting by local authorities.

In view of the very revealing figures which have been given, can my right hon. Friend explain why there should be any agitation whatever to allow private enterprise to start building houses once again?

Does the Minister agree that the term "speculators" is unjust and offensive to people who have used their savings to build houses for letting to their fellow-citizens?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has in view for increasing the number of houses for letting and for sale in the burgh of Ayr.

The Town Council have at present 360 permanent houses under construction and were recently authorised to start 32 more. In addition they have accepted an offer of 60 of the new Blackburn type. All of these houses are for letting. No houses for sale are proposed in the meantime.

Despite that apparently optimistic statement is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, whereas in 1945 there were 2,000 families homeless in Ayr, today 2,500 families are homeless, due not to the inefficiency of the Town Council but to the right hon. Gentleman's own anti-social policy?

I am afraid that the hon. and gallant Gentleman's history is a bit awry. These people are homeless because the opportunity was not taken between the wars, when labour and materials were available, to rehouse them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that these houses which he envisages will not prove to be castles in the air?

Could the right hon. Gentleman state the number of homeless families in Ayr in the year 1939?

In 1939 quite a number of people could not afford to ask for a house.

The answers given to these questions are so entirely unsatisfactory that I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to allot to Stromness the 10 Swedish timber houses for which that burgh has asked.

By agreement with the County Council, their allocation of 20 houses will be erected inside Kirkwall Burgh. No additional Swedish timber houses are at present available for allocation, but the claims of Stromness will be considered when any further programme is contemplated.

But why not give the Burgh of Stromness a chance to get at least half of these extra houses given to the county?

Of course, we are very careful before interfering with the discretion of the county council and it was decided in this case that they were to go into Kirkwall Burgh.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is charging import duty on Swedish houses? Will be make representations to have the import duty done away with and the money given over to the local authorities?

I do not think my hon. Friend should be worried about it, because the Chancellor also pays for Swedish houses and what he takes from one pocket he puts into another.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to provide houses for persons who have left the area of one local authority and taken up temporary residence in an adjoining area, and for whom both local authorities in the areas where they used to be and where they now are domiciled, disclaim responsibility.

The letting of houses is a matter for local authorities themselves. I have no evidence that the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers is widespread. I shall, however, bring it to the notice of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee, who have recently been asked to survey local authorities' existing method of allocating tenancies and to make recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has been made aware that the Weir Housing Corporation of Coatbridge will he forced to close their factory in June unless orders for houses are immediately forthcoming; that this firm are capable of producing 100 permanent houses per week at low competitive cost with unskilled labour; and if he will immediately make use of this firm to increase the supply of houses.

I am in close touch with Messrs. Weir regarding their capacity. They themselves are tendering for local authority orders and I have asked the Scottish Special Housing Association and Messrs. Weir to consider co-operation in making continued use of this firm's output.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that it is no longer shortage of materials that is retarding the rate of completion in house building, he will approach the trade unions in the building industry with a view to discussing methods for increasing the output.

I have discussed this question with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works and I have arranged to meet the Joint Advisory Panel of the Building Industry on 11th February.

Will my right hon. Friend discuss the question of output bonuses?

Yes, I propose to discuss all the possibilities of increasing productivity in the building trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses are being built in the fishing village of Maidens, Ayrshire; when they were begun; when they are likely to be completed; and what has been the reason for the delay to date.

Progress on this scheme has been delayed from time to time by shortage of materials, and bad weather on an exposed site. Of 10 houses started in November 1946, two are completed, four are expected to be completed shortly, and the remaining four later in the year.

Is the Minister aware that people from this village are threatened with eviction from huts on the Turn-berry Golf Course? Will he see that housing takes precedence over golf?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special qualification Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Graham had for the appointment of Commandant of the Scottish Police Training College; whether he has considered the resolution of protest made by the Scottish Police Federation against the appointment of a person with no police knowledge or supervision; and whether a person trained in police service could not have been found to fill this position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 25th January and 1st February to Questions on this subject.

Does not the Minister consider that the military mind in civil affairs is a bad thing and that it would be better to appoint somebody with a knowledge of civil affairs instead of, say, a militarist?

Appoint a pacifist.

I do not want an Admiral but somebody with civic knowledge.

I have had the opportunity of mixing with some of the people who have been running the Air Force, both administratively and otherwise, and I certainly formed a very high opinion of their capacity. In this case, the man was not appointed because he had been in the Air Force, neither was he debarred because of his Air Force service. He was appointed by a committee, including police people, who selected him, because of his outstanding ability for this job, as being the best man in all the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the Corporation of the City of Glasgow to clear part of the catchment area of Loch Katrine of sheep and to give the land over to afforestation; whether he has considered the representations made to him on the matter by the Central Agricultural Executive Committee; and whether he has made any decision to condone this loss of food production or to utilise his powers under the Agriculture (Scotland) Act, 1948.

Yes, Sir. I am advised, however, that the standards normally applied in determining whether grazing land should be diverted to afforestation favour forestry on this particular part of the catchment area, and I felt that I could not therefore object to the proposal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, at a time when we face a meat famine and the Government are appealing for more meat for the country, to wipe out 1,000 sheep is sure to shake agricultural confidence in the Government's appeal?

In this particular area a great many special features had to be taken into account. I was advised both by my agricultural and by my forestry advisers and the balance in this case lay in favour of afforestation.

Will the Minister consider publishing the nature of those considerations?

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether they were grounds of public health or otherwise?

Partly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the need for an occupational therapy clinic in the city of Aberdeen, which could be attended by patients after their discharge from the Aberdeen Royal Mental Hospital; and if he will take steps to have one established there.

I am asking the local medical authorities concerned to consider the hon. and learned Member's proposal.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the whole of the North-East of Scotland would benefit by the establishment of such an occupational clinic in Aberdeen?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when publication may be expected of the report submitted in July, 1948, by the committee appointed by him to review the services presently in operation in Scotland for the supply and quality of milk.

I am hoping to publish this report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the Department of Agriculture is refusing to pay a grant under the Agricultural (Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts, 1941 and 1944, in respect of schemes for agricultural water supplies on the basis of the lowest competitive offer, as scheduled by tradesmen in the district where the water supplies are to be introduced.

The proportion of the cost of approved schemes for agricultural water supplies which may be paid by way of grant is not statutory, but at present the grant payable is 50 per cent. of the cost normally incurred for work of the kind in the particular district concerned. I am not, however, prepared to authorise this percentage where the rates charged are above normal, even if the offer is the lowest received. In such cases, grant will be paid on the normal rate, or on a valuation of the completed work.

While the grants may not be statutory in one sense, are they not statutory in the sense that they are of such proportion as the Treasury may approve; and does the right hon. Gentleman really think it is fair, when the Treasury have approved a certain proportion of the grant and the cost has been incurred, that the owner of the land who carries out the improvements should not get the full proportion of the cost incurred?

I am afraid the control is a little tighter than that and we wish to see the work carried out economically and to consider various other factors before deciding on the grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that several hundred people in Bernera Island are denied the benefits of the National Health Service through isolation in stormy weather owing to delay in constructing the proposed bridge to link this island with the Isle of Lewis; what contribution he is prepared to make to the cost of the bridge; and when work is expected to begin.

I am aware of the need for better access to the island of Bernera. With regard to the proposed bridge, the county council have been authorised to carry the preparatory work for this project to the contract-letting stage in order that the actual construction work may be put in hand without delay, when it becomes possible to provide the necessary materials. Sixty per cent. of the cost of the preparatory work is being met by the Ministry of Transport and 25 per cent. by my Department.

While we are grateful that the Treasury, after inordinate delay, have now agreed to permit the survey to go ahead, the death of another of my constituents has been reported and, because she was not able to go to the mainland, a young girl patient was not able to have urgently needed surgical treatment. Will my right hon. Friend and the Government take urgent steps to see that this work is done in case the electorate are guilty of an electoral aberration in 1950 and the Government find themselves in the position of not being able to honour their pledge?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that many ex-Service fishermen and others in the Western Isles are unable to take any advantage of the grants and loans available for fishing boats or gear because of the lack of piers, boat shelters and jetties; that this is causing unemployment and loss of fresh fish supplies; and whether he will expedite the settlement by his Department of all cases where schemes are sponsored by local authorities, including the proposed Portnaguran, Isle of Lewis, pier.

I am aware that there is a widespread demand for the provision of piers in the Western Isles and any reasonable proposals in this connection. which are put forward by the responsible local authorities, will receive sympathetic consideration. The County Council of Ross and Cromarty are considering, at my request, whether the needs of Portnaguran would be met by the provision of a pier and boat-slip.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that for more than 90 years we have been having sympathetic consideration for the Porthnaguran Pier, but that sympathetic consideration has neither built the pier nor caught any fish? Will he make these grants useful to the men by going ahead with the work?

I think my hon. Friend might turn his eyes to some of the things which have been done occasionally and not always to things which have not been done.

Perhaps I am more familiar with that area and its problems than my right hon. Friend. I am not in the least ungrateful for the grants for boats and gear which are most generous, but we cannot take advantage of them until the piers and shelters are built. Surely that calls for some action by the Treasury and the right hon. Gentleman?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now state the position regarding the proposed road, jetties and agricultural developments in the Scottish Department of Agriculture estate, the Isle of Vatersay; and when these schemes are to begin.

I have invited the County Council of Inverness to co-operate with me in the provision of one main jetty to serve as access to the island and in the provision of roads of county highway standard from that jetty to the main centres of population. In addition to the normal grant of works of this kind, I am prepared to make a supplementary contribution from estate funds which will limit their contribution. I have also made an offer to the tenants to meet the full capital cost of a Hill Farm Improvement Scheme for the island grazings. These schemes will be put in hand when agreements have been reached with the county council and the tenants.

May I assure my right hon. Friend that this will give the greatest possible satisfaction to all concerned?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are employed in Scotland approving calves for subsidy payment; what were the costs of administration incurred in the last four months; and how many calves, male and female, have been approved for subsidy and how many rejected by the certifying officers.

Thirty-four certifying officers are employed on this work at present. The scheme had been in operation for five months at 31st January, 1949. Administrative expenses for the five months are estimated at £13,000, of which £10,500 was for certifying officers' salaries and travelling expenses. In round figures, the number of calves ear-marked and certified as eligible was just over 100,000, of which 23,000 are steer calves and the remainder heifers. The number of calves rejected was 4,900.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the female calves are approved by male certifying officers and vice versa?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional members of the Scottish Land Court are to be appointed; what qualifications are required; and what method of selection will be adopted.

It is proposed to appoint two members of the Scottish Land Court, of whom one will be in place of a member retiring under the age limit on the 21st March next. These two members should be practical agriculturists of standing with experience of agricultural arbitrations and farm records; one with special knowledge of hill farming and the other with special knowledge of dairy farming. The appointments wilt be on a full-time basis. The appointments are made by His Majesty on the recommendation of the Secretary of State and my recommendations will be made after consideration of any applications sent to me and such inquiry as may be necessary, and after consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, and the Chairman of the Land Court.

May I ask if the qualification of speaking Gaelic is not important and would one of these officers have that qualification?

There is always one Gaelic-speaking member of the court.

Will either of the new members be Gaelic-speaking?

I would require notice of that question.

They speak Edinburgh.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what, since inception, are the maximum, minimum and present number of inmates in the camp for agricultural workers at Forgandenny, Perthshire; what, since inception, are the equivalent numbers of staff to look after them; and what, since inception, has been the average number of inmates regularly employed on agricultural work outside the camp.

The maximum, minimum and present numbers of agricultural workers accommodated at the hostel since its inception in February, 1948, are 25, four and five respectively. The maximum number of hostel staff employed was six which has been reduced to three. The average number of the agricultural workers hired out to farmers to date is between eight and nine. Owing to the lack of demand for these workers, it was recently decided to close the hostel in the meantime.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the letter sent to him by the Member for West Fife, in connection with a resolution on the need for a Scottish Planning Commission passed by the Amalgamated Engineering Union National Committee in 1946; and whether he will make a statement.

I have considered the resolution in question along with a similar resolution of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. Scotland is already served by several bodies concerned with planning its industries and services and these are co-ordinated in the Scottish Economic Conference which advises the Secretary of State who is, under Statute, the Planning Minister for Scotland.