HC Deb 19 June 1884 vol 289 cc934-6

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clauses 1 to 7, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 8 (Liability in case of destruction by fire).

MR. D. CAMERON

said, it appeared to him that the previous clauses formed part of what was in the nature of a bargain or compromise between the counties in Scotland and the Treasury. He did not know what the opinion of Scotch county Members might be; but it seemed to him that the Treasury had got the best of the bargain. In respect of this clause, he ventured to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Lord Advocate to make a small concession. This clause provided that if a Court House erected or improved under the Sheriffs Court Act was destroyed or injured by fire it should be replaced at the cost of the county and not of the Treasury. The Court Houses ought to be insured, and he suggested to the Lord Advocate that, proceeding on the principle which pervaded the rest of the Bill, he should make the concession that one-half of the premium should be paid by the Treasury and the other half by the county.

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

said, he would consider the matter on Report. His hon. Friend (Mr. D. Cameron) had rightly apprehended the general scope of the Bill. It was the opinion of the Law Officers of successive Governments that the provisions of the Act of 1860 would be exhausted by a single application. That was found to be a great hardship on many counties, and this Bill had been introduced in consequence of the complaints on that head which had come from several counties; but when the Government undertook to bear the burden of successive applications to the extent of one-half it seemed right there should be a rectification of certain other defects in the Act of 1860. The Treasury thought that if there could be a second application with regard to a Court House, they were fairly entitled to say that they

should not be liable to be called upon for the cost of the restoration of a Court House which had been burnt down. It must be borne in mind that the counties had the appointment of the officers, and that they could protect themselves by insurance. At the same time, he would consider the point raised by the hon. Gentleman (Mr. D. Cameron) by Report, and he would delay the Report stage for a week to admit all the question being fully entertained.

Clause agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Thursday next.

    cc935-6
  1. SETTLED LAND BILL [Lords].— [BILL 247.] 4 words
      2. cc935-6
    1. COMMITTEE. 286 words
  2. MOTIONS.
      3. c936
    1. TRUSTEES OF SETTLEMENTS BILL. 41 words
      2. c936
    2. CRIMINAL LUNATICS BILL. 43 words