§ MR. J. W. BARCLAYasked the Lord Advocate, with reference to the information he gave the House of Commons last year, that he was endeavouring to arrange that certain Procurators Fiscal in the West Highlands of Scotland should not in future engage in private practice, Whether such arrangements have been carried into effect; and, should he have found them impracticable, whether he will bring in a Bill to give the Executive sufficient power to provide that the Public Prosecutors should occupy an independent impartial position with respect to the administration of the Law?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)Arrangements had not been concluded when I left Office in June last, and I have not yet learned whether they have been carried into effect since; but I shall immediately inquire; and if it should prove that arrangements cannot be effected on reasonable terms, the question will be considered whether legislative authority should not be asked from the Executive to require the officials referred to to confine themselves to their official duties upon fair terms.