Scotland Wants Increased Control Of Its Affairs

Chronicle (Levin), 1 December 1949, Page 5

Scotland Wants Increased Control Of Its Affairs

LONDON. Nov. 30. The Association of Scottish Unioniat Associations. has published a report ' making a number of suggestions de.signed to give the people., of; Scotland greater co.htrol over their own affairs. They include- the -appointment of two i more Ministers to the Scottigh Qffice and the setting up of a Royal Comini&sion to examine the effect of r-ecent changes upon flnancial apd economic , relations between Engfand and "Bebtland. The report makes it elear that Scot'tish unionists are opposed both fo. the political division of "England and Scotland as advoeated by Scottish Nationalists and to the British Labour- Government ;s poiiey of amalgamatioja and «£ntralisation of control at Westminster. The un,ionists eonsider that th,e mokt praetical method of seeuring Seo.ttish control over Scottish affairs would by the -establishment of the offiee of a deputy to the Secretqry of State. for Scotland with the title of Minister q.f State for Scotland. The proposed new Minister .would hold Cabinet rank anrl would administer his offiee from Scotland. The qppointment of an additional ilnderseeretary of State for Scotland is . also, auggest.edThe report urges that wherever possible nationalised undertakings in Scot- : land should be controlled by separate Scottish Boards eo-ordinated with those operating in, England,