Mr Archibald Skelton: Yes, Sir. Education authorities are increasingly turning their attention to parents' days and school exhibitions to which my right hon. Friend attaches great importance. During the past year 12 special exhibitions have been held in different parts of Scotland, including the city of Glasgow and the counties of Kirkcudbright, Fife and Orkney. In addition, the Edinburgh authority have appointed...
Mr Archibald Skelton: My right hon. Friend much regrets that he has not yet been able to meet the Church and Nation Committee of the Church of Scotland, but he hopes to do so during the Recess.
Mr Archibald Skelton: There is no question of taking any action at the moment. It is a question of discussion with the committee which wishes to put its views before my right hon. Friend. Before any action were taken dealing with the law of Scotland in this matter, most careful and full consideration would have to take place.
Mr Archibald Skelton: The Department of Health have refused to approve a proposal by the Irvine Town Council to feu 10 acres of land at Springbank Farm for a housing site at the rate of £10 per acre as they are advised that this rate is excessive and that a fair rate of feu duty for the area is £3 5s. 6d. per acre. Representations made by the town council to the Department in support of their proposal are now...
Mr Archibald Skelton: The matter is before me, and I will take all relevant facts into consideration.
Mr Archibald Skelton: I will take all the action that will be necessary.
Mr Archibald Skelton: Yes, Sir. I am informed that all arrangements have been completed for opening the College on the 2nd September, 1935.
Mr Archibald Skelton: I am obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend.
Mr Archibald Skelton: My right hon. Friend has secured that the intimation of the results of the leaving certificate examination was completed some six weeks earlier than has hitherto been possible. The lists of successful candidates were issued to all schools on 13th June and the results in individual subjects on the following day.
Mr Archibald Skelton: The Advisory Council have at present under their consideration the following remit: To consider the position of technical education in the day school system of Scotland and to advise as to developments which may be desirable in order to establish a closer relation between day school work and the industries requiring technical knowledge and ability. This inquiry is of the greatest importance...
Mr Archibald Skelton: I am given to understand that the Educational Endowments Commissioners hope to be in a position to submit their amended scheme for the future management of the Hospitalfield Trust towards the middle of next month. No students have been resident at Hospitalfield since 1928, but there would appear to be no reason why the trustees should not meanwhile admit students under the provisions of the...
Mr Archibald Skelton: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As stated in reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on Tuesday of last week, early steps will be taken, as required by the Act of 1929, to investigate its financial working in consultation with local authorities before the expiry of the second fixed grant period on 15th May, 1937.
Mr Archibald Skelton: The investigations will be undertaken in full time before the period lapses.
Mr Archibald Skelton: On that point, I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. and gallant Member for Caithness (Sir A. Sinclair).
Mr Archibald Skelton: Yes, that is so.
Mr Archibald Skelton: As the reply is long and includes a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr Archibald Skelton: I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." It will not be necessary to make any long introductory remarks in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, for the simple reason that on the 27th June last the House in Committee debated at full length the relevant Financial Resolution, and the Bill contains nothing but what that Resolution itself contained, so that if I were to make a...
Mr Archibald Skelton: Since the introduction of the subsidy, whereas in other parts of England the increase from the lowest point in England and Wales as a whole has been 1s. 1½d. Similarly, with regard to the question of the number of agricultural workers, as compared with 1924 the decline in agricultural workers in England and Wales is 14.7 per cent., but in those areas where sugar beet was intensively...
Mr Archibald Skelton: I am afraid that I cannot give the figure.
Mr Archibald Skelton: I am afraid I cannot, but I will try and have it worked out, and if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question I will see whether I can give it. These, I think, are the only observations which I need make, for the interest in this debate is not in the opening speech in moving the Second Reading, but in the speeches that will follow upon the Amendment.
