§ MR. M. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, (1) with reference to the deportation from Scotland of Irish born persons who have lived and worked in Scotland for the greater portion of their lives, whether the time of their residence in Scotland is taken into account to qualify for settlement, or if the qualifying time only begins to run from their coming to the parish from which they are deported; (2) whether the Local Government Board have expressed any opinion against this state of affair's; and (3) whether, considering that although the work of their lives has been spent in Scotland, and that they are only deported when they become destitute and unfit for work, he will consider the desirability of having the law as to deportation repealed?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir CHARLES PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrew's UniversitiesThe first paragraph of this Question discloses a misconception which I may be allowed to remove. Neither of the alternatives mentioned in the first paragraph is an accurate expression of the legal rule as to residence. The statutory rules as to the legal settlement of paupers are not based upon residence in one country or another, but upon residence in one parish or another; and the liability of the birth parish remains in all cases where a settlement has either not been acquired in any other, or, being acquired, is lost. This is the case equally as between two Scottish parishes, and as between a Scottish and an Irish parish. I am not aware that the Local Government Board have expressed any opinion against this state of the law. The subject is beset with difficulty. The Departments concerned are still in communication about it; and every effort will be made to arrive at a satisfactory solution.