HC Deb 18 February 1879 vol 243 cc1406-7
MR. J. W. BARCLAY

asked the Secretary of Stati1 for the Home Department, Whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce this Session a Bill to abolish Agricultural Hypothec in Scotland; and, whether he is prepared to state the conclusions at which he has arrived in regard to the appointment of an Under Secretary of State for Scotland and the office of Lord Clerk Register?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS,

in reply, said, with regard to the first part of the Question, I think the bettor course for the Government to adopt would be to explain their views on the 19th of March, when the Bill on that subject is to be read a second time, and when the Lord Advocate will discuss the Bill on the subject. With, regard to the office of Lord Clerk Register, the details of the arrangement are not yet finally settled; but I hope, in the course of a few days, to answer the Question of which my hon. Friend has given Notice. Meanwhile, I may state that the Government do not intend to abolish the office of Lord Clerk Register. In their opinion, there ought to be one person to undertake the whole Register Office, and that person ought to be a man, as he is decribed in the words of the Report of 1866— Learned in the law, of great classical ability, and resident, so as to be able to devote his whole time to the duties of the office. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the office of Lord Clerk Register is one of the chief Offices of State in Scotland. Therefore, it is not the intention that he should occupy this office, but that it should be given to a person of very high standing, who would not receive any salary. As to the other part of the Question, I must reserve my remarks till after I have perused the Bill on the subject.