Mr William Stewart: In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.
Mr William Stewart: 53. asked the Minister of Transport what has been the average number of vehicles carried per day and per week by the Firth of Forth ferries at Queensferry since the new ser- vice began; and what was the latest ascertained total of vehicles crossing the Forth by the Stirling road bridge?
Mr William Stewart: May we take it that there are no figures for this service for later than three years ago?
Mr William Stewart: 40. asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the producers of certified and Grade A milk in Scotland have requested an opportunity of being heard by the Departments of Agriculture and Health for Scotland on certain matters affecting their position; and whether he will arrange that such an opportunity should be given at the earliest possible date?
Mr William Stewart: But the hon. Member must talk about the things that they will have to do under this Bill. That is what we are discussing.
Mr William Stewart: I am not saying that the hon. Member has been imagining it, but I ask him to look at what is in the Bill. When these tasks, if you like to call them so, are extended it is provided that they are not to be extended to those persons who are too old or too weak or who have not the aptitude for them—precisely the sort of people mentioned by him. I hope I can understand the meaning of a Clause...
Mr William Stewart: With great deference, I do not think the hon. Gentleman mentioned either ploughing or harrowing or reaping. Hon. Members speak as though anybody could be turned into an agricultural worker at short notice. I would point out that this is highly skilled work, and I cannot imagine that it has ever been suggested by the Government that specialised work of that kind should be done by these people....
Mr William Stewart: The hon. Member does not give me the credit of distinguishing between training centres and the arrangement by which local authorities are to require work to be done in return for payments. I was referring to the latter.
Mr William Stewart: Most of us, of course, have read that speech. I welcomed the statement of the Foreign Secretary today. It was a highly important statement, which we hope and believe may have profound effects and results for good upon the general situation throughout the world. I rise for a few moments only to pick up one particular aspect of international affairs. I noticed that throughout the Foreign...
Mr William Stewart: All of us agree with that, but we also agree that by so much as we keep out of these agreements each of these agreements is weakened. The question I want to address myself to is, why do we keep out of these regional agreements? Partly because of the reluctance of our fellow-countrymen to engage in other hostilities. I put that point of view during the last Debate of this kind. Without...
Mr William Stewart: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the official to whom he refers in one particular town acts upon decision of the Umpire and upon that decision has disallowed benefit in this particular case, although in fact no lodgers have been taken by the woman?
Mr William Stewart: 40. asked the Postmaster-General whether he is reconsidering the scale of wages paid to lower grade postal workers; what possibilities exist for increasing the pay of postmen and when he expects to be in a position to announce the results of his further negotiations on the matter with the Postal Workers' Union?
Mr William Stewart: Do we understand that these discussions will include postmen and lower-paid postal workers?
Mr William Stewart: I understand that, but what I am offering is a lesson for the future. We have assumed that, having approved the scheme, we can hand it over, and that is the end of it. Parliament will be bound in the future to take more direct interest in the management of these boards which are going to control these schemes, as well as to make a much closer examination of the implications and possible...
Mr William Stewart: The Noble Lord has said precisely what I said. At the present moment the price is perfectly satisfactory.
Mr William Stewart: I answered that question. I said they were justified on the ground of emergency.
Mr William Stewart: To complete the borings.
Mr William Stewart: 41. asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the recommendation of the Fishery Board for Scotland relating to the experimental delineation of the Firth of Forth for the more harmonious and efficient prosecution of herring fishing by drift and ring-net boats during the winter season; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr William Stewart: Before the right hon. Gentleman takes a decision, and a decision contrary to the recommendations of the Fishery Board, will he meet a deputation representing the united interests of the drift-net fishermen of the Firth of Forth and elsewhere?
Mr William Stewart: 39. asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the committee, of inquiry has yet furnished its report on the bracken question in Scotland?