§ MR. COWANasked the Lord Advocate if his attention had been drawn to the recent alarming increase of the crime of housebreaking, caused, as he believed, by the ticket-of-leave system, in certain parts of Scotland, and to the difficulty hitherto experienced in its suppression; and whether, under those circumstances, it was the intention of the Government, by the revocation of tickets of leave, by the establishment of a Scottish constabulary, or otherwise, to afford a greater measure of security to property than was at present possessed in some districts of Scotland?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, he knew nothing of the circumstance referred to by the hon. Gentleman, except that, according to the newspapers, last year a great many cases of housebreaking occurred, but all the depredators had, he believed, been apprehended. The subject of the ticket-of-leave system was now under the consideration 119 of a Committee of the House; and with regard to the establishment of a Scottish constabulary, the subject was now under the consideration of the Government.