§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he is aware that the expenses in the action brought by a police constable against certain persons in Port Charlotte, Islay, are being paid by the Police Authorities of the county, and if he will cause inquiry to be made; whether he is aware that county officials, including the Deputy Fiscal for the county, have, in company 1817 with the agent for the prosecutor, been engaged collecting evidence in support of the prosecution; and whether, if the Police Committee of the County Council is paying the expenses of the prosecution, they will also pay the costs of the defence if it is successful?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR, Clackmannan, &c.)I am informed by the Clerk to the Standing Joint Committee of Argyllshire—which is now the Police Authority—that it is not the case that the expenses in the action referred to are being paid by them; that they have not been asked to pay them, or consulted in the matter, and that he has no knowledge of any assistance being given by any county official to the action.