§ MR. FORDYCEsaid, he wished to ask the Lord Advocate, If it is the intention of Government, during the present Session, to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1868, on the County and Burgh Police systems of Scotland, by relieving Counties from their heavy payments to Procurators Fiscal, and remunerating these officials entirely by fixed salaries, as already is the case in Edinburgh and Lanarkshire?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE, in reply, said, he thought his hon. Friend had misapprehended the recommendation of 67 the Select Committee, which was in these terms—
The Committee recommend that the system which prevails in some counties of remunerating Procurators Fiscal partly by Fees be discontinued, and that these Officers be remunerated entirely by fixed salary.Procurators Fiscal were paid for certain portions of their work by the Exchequer and for the residue by the counties. The Exchequer had for a long while paid by salary, and many counties did the same. Other counties continued to pay by fees. It was in their power, with the approbation of the sheriffs, to change the mode of payment when they pleased. Any interference on the part of the Government was, therefore, quite unnecessary.