338 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

are independent of the County Councils. None of the small
Burghs manage their own police force; and the Police Burghs
have powers very similar to those of the smaller Municipal
Boroughs in England. There is a further resemblance to England
in the fact that the powers of the County Council as against
those of the small Burghs, are on the increase.

The County outside the Burghs is divided into Districts.
The District Councils contain not only persons elected as District
Councillors in the usual manner, but also those who have been
elected from that District as County Councillors. At most, a
District Council may possess as much power as its English
counterpart; but in practice its powers are such as the County
Council, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State 'for
Scotland, may determine..

It has already been pointed out, in Chapter VI, that there is
poverty in many parts of Scotland for the same reasons as there
are Distressed Areas in England; to this must be added the
infertility of much of the land and the difficulties of transport.
Consequently, Scottish local authorities find it difficult to main-
tain the social services. Their educational system, it is true, is
superior to that of England, having a school-leaving age of fifteen
and more generous provision for advanced education. The health,
jnaternity and child welfare services, however, lag behind. A
greater measure of independence—perhaps a separate Parliament
for Scotland like those of the Dominions—would mean an
administration with more understanding of, and sympathy with
Scottish difficulties. On the other hand, an effort by a Govern-
ment with the resources of Britain as a whole would be necessary
if new industries are to be started and agriculture revived.
Possibly the solution is to be found in Regionalism, the Regional
Administration for Scotland being given special powers and
assistance to develop the country. The work of the Swedish
Government in developing its own northern districts, or of the
U.S. Government in the Tennessee Valley, might serve as
examples.