§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether it is true that, at a recent Licensing Court for the Airdrie District of Lanarkshire, Sheriff-Substitute Mair acted as Chairman, and, in the case of an equal vote for and against granting a new public house licence at Swinton, gave his casting vote in favour of its grant; whether it is true that, when the new certificate came before the Licensing Committee on the 2nd instant for confirmation, Sheriff Mair was present, and spoke in support of the application; and whether it is customary for Sheriffs or Sheriffs-Substitute, to sit as Judges ex officio in Licensing Courts in Scotland, or to interfere at confirming Courts?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B, ROBERTSON,) ButeI must ask the hon. Gentleman to defer the question. I have not yet been able to obtain the information that would enable me to answer it.