§ MR. HOZIERI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what legal authority he had for permitting, as in the case of Ross-shire, the payment out of the rates of the travelling expenses of County Councillors attending County Council meetings?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI explained to the House the view taken by the Scottish Office on the question of payment of expenses by County Councils. That view has been embodied in a Circular and goes to-day to all County Councils in Scotland. No expenses of County Councillors have been sanctioned, or will be sanctioned, except in accordance with that Circular. The advice on which a Minister acts is a matter for himself alone.
§ MR. HOZIERWas the advice given on the 28th December legal or illegal?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANIt was not advice on which eventually we acted.
§ MR. HOZIERIs the letter withdrawn?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANOf course it is.