§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)asked the Lord Advocate, How many of the Commissioners named in the Universities (Scotland) Bill have passed through the curriculum of arts in the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and St. Andrew's respectively; and, whether it is the fact that 11 out of the 12 nominated Commissioners are Tories or Liberal Unionists?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The hon. Member must excuse me for not making official inquiries into the private history of the education of gentlemen, and for not giving official opinions as to the political views of members of the Royal Commission, whose duties are in no way associated with Party politics.
§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think the Commission, of which Notice was given in the House of Lords last week, is one that properly represents the general opinion of Scotland?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! It is a Rule of the House that the mere 1539 opinion of a Member on a particular subject is not the proper subject for a Question.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman, whether, as a matter of fact, any one of the nominated Commissioners has any practical acquaintance with one of the Universities—namely, St. Andrew's —which the right hon. and learned Gentleman himself represents?
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDI am not in a position to answer that Question. If the hon. Member will put it down upon the Paper I will inquire.