§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has obtained any further information as to the infringement of the Truck Acts in various parts of Scotland; and, whether it is true that there are technical difficulties in enforcing those Acts in Scotland; and, if yes, whether he will, during the recess, consider the advisa- 8 bility of introducing a Bill, next Session, enacting that all prosecutions under the Truck Acts may be brought in the Sheriffs' Court by the Procurators Fiscal, whose expenses may be entered and repayable as in other prosecutions?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)In answer to the hon. Member, I regret to say that I have no further information on this subject as yet from Scotland. I have consulted the Lord Advocate as to the latter part of the Question, and he tells me that he is not aware of any technical difficulties in the way of enforcing the Truck Acts in Scotland, and he does not advise any further legislation on the subject. I may add that I am still prosecuting inquiries into the matter.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI wish to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that these difficulties were expressly stated by the Truck Commissioners, and have never been altered since?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)I am aware that certain difficulties were stated by the Commissioners; but inquiries I have made as to the present state of the matter do not appear to indicate that there is any substantial difficulty now.