Clause 1. — (Substitution of Departments for Boards of Health and Agriculture and Prison Commissioners for Scotland.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Reorganisation of Offices (Scotland) Bill. – in the House of Commons am ar 9 Gorffennaf 1928.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Sir James Macpherson Sir James Macpherson , Ross and Cromarty

But there are a great many Scotsmen who are not satisfied with having the limited objectives in the Scottish Office, and who want to come down and sit in examinations which make the whole world and the British Empire open to them. Consequently, I should hate to feel that my Scottish fellow-countrymen, young and fresh from school and the Universities, should be limited merely to the Scottish Office. Scotland has paid far too big a price for the Empire to be limited, to that field. Consequently, as long as you get that guarantee that no Scotsman will be ineligible for the highest office in a Scottish Government Department, then I say that is a point gained.

There is one other point. There is no doubt at all that when you have a reorganisation on so gigantic a scale—for it is on a gigantic scale—you are bound to have a good deal of anxiety in the minds of the existing officers in the various Departments. We have had experience of the somewhat cruel treatment of officers in various State Departments. When reorganisation has taken place, they have not been looked after and have not been provided for. I would like again to press upon the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Scotland the demand of the House of Commons—not the desirability, but the demand of the House of Commons—that every single man who may be affected adversely by this reorganisation should be looked after financially. I know that it may be placing the right lion. Gentleman in a difficulty, but I think it is the will of the House of Commons that every man who is in any way adversely affected, either by being asked to retire too soon or by being affected in his pension, should be looked after. I should like to get that guarantee from the right hon. Gentleman. Apart from these adverse observations, so far as the Board of Health is concerned, I am on the whole in favour of this Bill. I think it is a Bill which is going to make for efficiency, and I think it is a Bill which, in the interests of economy and efficiency ought to be supported. [Interruption.] I note that the hon. and gallant Gentleman above the Gangway is the only Welshman present, and he moved a count a few minutes ago.