DR. R. MACDONALD (Ross and Cromarcy)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether, on the 8th of May last, the supervisor of the Lochcarron district, along with his men, and aided by the local police, forcibly entered and searched the house of David Poison, of Slumbay, without having a magistrate's warrant to do so; whether a warrant was granted for searching the house of Duncan Macdonald, Slumbay, on that date; whether, on the 14th May, a warrant was granted to search the houses of both these men; whether he is aware that the Inland Revenue Board has refused to censure its officer for this act of alleged illegality, and referred Poison to the Court of Session if he felt aggrieved; and, whether the Government will cause an inquiry into the matter?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The answer to the first and second questions is "No." A warrant, applicable to the premises of Duncan Macdonald, was obtained on the 7th of May, and the search was made there on that day. The answer to the third question is "Yes." No complaint was made to the Board of Inland Revenue, and the Board has not refused to censure its officers. The Board did not refer Poison to the Court of Session if he felt aggrieved The only communication received by the Board was from Poison's solicitor, stating that he was instructed to raise an action; and on receiving notice of the question inquiry was made, with the result stated.