HC Deb 14 July 1884 vol 290 cc900-1
MR. J. W. BARCLAY

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has yet been able to consider the case of the Public Prosecutor in Lewis, who is also land agent for the sole proprietor of the island; and, whether he proposes to take any step to carry out the recommendations of the Crofters' Commission that the Law Officers of the Crown in the district reported on should be placed in an impartial and independent position?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

I have been requested by my right hon. and learned Friend to answer this Question. As I have had occasion to state in the House before, the Procurator Fiscal in Lewis is not land agent for the proprietor of the Island; he is only the local law agent for the proprietor, whose principal law agents are a firm in Edinburgh. The Secretary of State has no power to remove a Procurator Fiscal from office unless for inability or misbehaviour upon a Report by the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Justice Clerk, and there is no suggestion of inability or misbehaviour in this case. Upon the general question I have nothing to add to the statements and explanations which have already been made during the present Session.

MR. J. W. BARCLAY

Are we to understand that the Government do not intend to take any steps whatever on the recommendation of the Crofters' Commission with respect to the administration of justice in the Western Islands?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

It has already been explained that the whole matter is under consideration.