Mr George Mathers: Is the Minister aware that local branches of the staff associations are complaining about the way in which this matter is being handled at the present time? Would he make certain that the ex-Service men are not prejudiced by the retention of those who, according to the staff associations have less claim to be retained?
Mr George Mathers: asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions for public and staff which prevail at the County of West Lothian food office at Bathgate; and, in view of the fact that these conditions will not be remedied before July, 1950, whether he will take immediate steps to improve the position, more especially to protect callers at the office from having to queue outside...
Mr George Mathers: Is my right hon. Friend aware that this office brings his own Department into disrepute? Will he not help, through his right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, to expedite the new office and so remove these bad conditions?
Mr George Mathers: Is my right hon. Friend correct in saying that the new office will be ready for next summer?
Mr George Mathers: asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the announcement that a new food office for the County of West Lothian decided upon last December will not be made available until July, 1950; and whether he will make arrangements to ensure that callers at the present office will be adequately protected from inclement weather and the erection of the new office...
Mr George Mathers: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the principal objection is to the fact that there is a suggestion that a start cannot be made before November this year? The matter has been in hand for a long time, and that seems an inordinate delay.
Mr George Mathers: In reply to the hon. Member for South Edinburgh (Sir W. Darling), may I point out that all the Scottish Ministers are engaged today on very important business in Scotland, where he and others who share his views are always urging that they should be? I am sure Scottish Members will agree that this matter can be efficiently dealt with by the Ministers now on the Front Bench.
Mr George Mathers: The Tourist Board comes within the scope of the report which is before the Committee for discussion.
Mr George Mathers: I have not ruled the hon. and gallant Member out of Order. I did not think there was any necessity for doing so.
Mr George Mathers: The hon. and gallant Member is going considerably furth of Scotland now.
Mr George Mathers: The hon. and gallant Member pleased me when he said that he was about to address himself to another theme. I am sorry to say that I find him harping on the same string throughout his speech. I ask him not to be repetitive.
Mr George Mathers: I shall put it more plainly. I must ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to recognise that there is a rule against repetition.
Mr George Mathers: Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that sufficient publicity was given to the rule which covers these pensions?
Mr George Mathers: This is, indeed, primarily intended to be a Debate on rural areas, but it seems to me that the hon. Gentleman has kept himself within the Rules of Order because transport is definitely related to the items which are before us.
Mr George Mathers: The salary of the Minister of Transport is not down and to that extent the hon. and gallant Gentleman is correct.
Mr George Mathers: I am quite sure that the points made by the hon. and gallant Member for Pollok (Commander Galbraith) will not be lost on the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs and that he will realise the importance of limiting his remarks and not taking them outside the scope of the Vote which is before us.
Mr George Mathers: I think that the hon. Member will realise he is dealing with a matter which does not concern this Vote. I do not object to him dealing with matters affecting agriculture in Scotland, but he should try to relate his remarks to the responsibility of the Secretary of State rather than to the responsibility of the War Office.
Mr George Mathers: When this Bill came before the House for its Second Reading it was introduced in a felicitous and wise speech by the Prime Minister. Similarly, we have had wise speeches as we take leave of it and send it to another place. I must say that I share the regrets that are being expressed that we have this Bill at all. I am not seeking to be embittered about the reason for this Bill having to come...
Mr George Mathers: In making a declaration on that topic I will go only so far as to quote the old Scottish proverb: There's aye some water where the stirkie droons. That might, alternatively, be rendered, "There is no smoke without fire." The statements we have heard about actions in Northern Ireland in the political sense cause us some regret, and lead us to doubt the use of words in the Bill which bind so...
Mr George Mathers: On a point of Order, Mr. Deputy-Chairman. We are now being treated to an argument about throwing the people of Northern Ireland out of the British Commonwealth. I suggest that the Amendment has nothing whatever to do with that.