§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)asked the Secretary for Scotland, Whether it is true that the precognition of the witnesses who made declarations with respect to the alleged mobbing and rioting at Tiree which led to the arrest of six crofters disclosed no act of injury or damage to person or property; whether it is true that none of the men arrested were present when the alleged deforcement of the messenger-at-arms took place; and, further, whether it is true that the Procurator-Fiscal is also a member of the firm of Sproat and Cameron, the law agents to the Duke of Argyll?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)(who replied) said: I believe it to be correct that Mr. Sproat, the Procurator Fiscal, is a member of the firm referred to. As regards the rest of the hon. Member's Question, I cannot agree to give any answer, because it is a Question with reference to inquiries which are being made by the Crown with a view to a prosecution, and which are necessarily confidential until the trial takes place.