§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)asked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been called to the fact that there are no prisoners for trial at the Circuit Court appointed to be held at Dundee on the 20th April; and, whether he will consider the propriety of making such arrangements as will in future avoid the inconvenience and expense of holding Circuit Courts when there is little or no business to be done?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)&c.) (Clackmannan,It is true that there are no prisoners for trial at the Circuit Court to be held at Dundee tomorrow. But it is possible that there may be complaints and civil appeals; and, further, as the Court is held under statutory authority, no such arrangements as the hon. Member points at can be made by the Judges. As no jurymen have been summoned, and the officials only require to attend, the inconvenience and expense occasioned by the holding of the Court will not be serious.