DR. CAMERONasked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is a fact that Thomas Scoffield, arrested in Ayr on October 13th on a charge of absenting himself from the annual training of the Lanark Militia, was kept in custody at a county constabulary station for five days without being brought before a magistrate for remand or committal; and, if he would explain how the delay originated, and how the case was ultimately disposed of?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)I believe the facts are correctly stated in the Question. Questions have arisen from time to time as to whether minor offences against the Army Acts should be prosecuted by the Civil or Military Authorities. During last Session a definite arrangement was agreed to between the Departments concerned, which was to come into force on the 1st of October. It appears that this arrangement was not sufficiently known or understood by the Local Authorities on the 13th of October, and a misunderstanding between them on the point was the cause of the delay. The consequence was that the man was liberated without being brought to trial. The occurrence is certainly to be regretted; but I do not think that such a case will happen again.