From the archives: Labour’s claim, 3 October, 1949

“FORWARD Scotland” – a statement of the Labour government’s record for Scotland and of Labour’s general election policy for Scotland – is published today by the Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party.

It will be considered at the annual Scottish conference of the Labour Party, which will be held in Aberdeen. The statement claims Labour has greatly extended Scotland’s control over its own affairs. It has extended the power of the Scottish Grand Committee, it has increased the amount of parliamentary time devoted to Scottish affairs, and it has established a Scottish Economic Conference. “While it is too early to reach a firm conclusion as to the effect of these changes, we believe the experiment should be given a fair trial. Every opportunity must be taken to improve the mechanics of Scottish government and to give the maximum amount of Scottish control, consistent with full membership of the British parliament.”

• archive.scotsman.com