§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether Her Majesty's Government will take the necessary steps to remove from the Roll of Justices of the Peace for Ross and Cromarty all persons who are not actual in-dwellers in the same shire, as required by the Scotch Act, 1587, c. 82.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR,) ClackmannanIt is not, according to the existing law, essential to the name of a person continuing upon the Commission of the Peace that he shall be actually resident in the county, though care should always be taken to have an adequate number of Resident Justices to meet the public requirements. Her Majesty's Government, therefore, do not propose to take steps in the direction indicated in the question.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)May I ask if a man may remain on the Roil when he no longer possesses a property or residential qualification?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURThis matter was under the consideration of the Lord Chancellor 10 or 12 years ago, and he expressed an opinion that the actual cessation of residence did not necessarily involve the removal of the name from the Commission.
§ MR. WEIRIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this particular county there are 33 Justices on the Commission who are non-resident. Some are resident in India and other parts of the world?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURI cannot say.