Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Does my right hon. Friend realise that under this special award the man is receiving only £300 a year, which is totally inadequate for a man who was totally disabled in 1916? Does not this illustrate the unsatisfactory state of affairs of pensions for officers who were pensioned under the 1919 code and is not the continued failure of successive Governments to adjust such pensions to an...
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton rose——
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: I only want to suggest that the service then got one from A to B, which the modern service does not.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: The hon. Gentleman the Member for Tradeston (Mr. Rankin) has eulogised the Corporations, as have various other Members who have spoken tonight, but I venture to say that as far as Scotland is concerned we cannot be altogether satisfied with the services we are getting; we cannot be satisfied with the fact that we are not getting a good many of the services we might. I was glad to hear the...
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: I said that ownership does not matter so much. I did not say much about competition, which is the strongest spur. It does not matter who is the owner; it is the centralised, monopolistic control that always makes for these evil results which have been described.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the difficulties caused by inadequate communications in rural areas in the Highlands of Scotland and the fact that the postal authorities are unable to provide telephones in many instances through shortage of cables, when sufficient cable will be available to measure up to the needs of the area.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he will bear in mind the importance of telephone communication in the Highland area, and will he do his best to see that this is expedited?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that television has been received in Inverness and even in Shetland, he will strengthen the power of the existing and proposed stations to cover the whole Highland area.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Is it not clear from the fact that television has been received in Inverness and Shetland and in many places in the Western Highlands that perhaps more could be achieved by strengthening the power than has originally been supposed? Will my hon. Friend also bear in mind that the providing of this facility may prove a very potent factor in retaining population in the Highlands?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Minister of Transport how much of the £1 million recently allocated by the Treasury for roads is to be used in Scotland and in the seven crofting counties.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind not only the need of improving existing roads in the crofting counties but that many of the communities in the crofting counties have no roads at all? Can this job be tackled?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it would be a great advantage to the country if some of the railways in the North of Scotland were electrified, thereby using the power of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and saving coal?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: I was about to protest on a point of order, Mr. Hynd, that in two days of debate not one Member had been called representing a constituency in the Highland mainland, which is an area very nearly half the size of Scotland, with special problems of its own. Despite certain good news that the Secretary of State has told us in connection with the Highlands, that we are to get £1 million more...
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Secretary of State for War if he will agree to the release from the Army of Mr. D. A. Rose, of Balvraid Farm, Inverness, in view of the fact that his absence in the Service will necessitate his father having to sell the farm.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Is my right hon. Friend aware that this decision may vitally affect the whole future of this man and the N.F.U. have strongly supported the case for his release? Is he aware that a great deal of concern is caused locally because it is felt that a lot of other people have been released for less valid reasons?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: This is a family working their own farm. They are busy working all day and it is quite impossible for them to comply with all bureaucratic instructions. Surely they can be given consideration?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will ensure that television reception is facilitated in the Western Highlands.
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: Does that answer mean that people in the Western Highlands will have to wait an indefinite period before they are likely to get television facilities? Although I appreciate that there are certain difficulties in affording facilities in this area, will my hon. Friend bear this matter in mind and try to get on with the provision of these facilities at a much earlier date?
Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton: asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for the Third Programme to be heard throughout the North and West of Scotland.