§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate (1) whether he is aware that a number of traders in Scotland have formed an association to boycott the co-operative stores and their members by refusing to sell to them, and that at a public auction in Glasgow the auctioneer refused to accept a bid made by the manager of a store; (2) whether boycotting is illegal in Scotland; and, if so, what action he intends to take in the matter?
§ * THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireIn answer to the first paragraph of the Question, I am aware that a dispute has arisen as to the action of an auctioneer at a public sale in Glasgow. I understand that an action of damages in respect thereof has been raised in the Sheriff Court, which action is at present sob judice; and in any case the point as affecting civil liability is not one on which I could pronounce an opinion. In reply to the second paragraph of the Question, I have to state that "boycotting" is not a "nomen juris." If the conduct of any person or persons in Scotland is alleged to be in contravention of the criminal law, the matter should be brought forward by lodging information with the Procurator Fiscal in ordinary form. No complaint has up to this time been lodged in respect of the matters alleged in the Question; and there is therefore at present no occasion for me to take action.