§ DR. CLARKI beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can state when a reply will be given to the memorial of the Scottish lighthouse keepers: whether it is proposed to have a retiring allowance to the Scottish keepers on the same basis as that given to the Irish and English keepers; and whether the conditions as to holiday leave now obtaining in England and Ireland will be extended to Scotland.
§ MR. RITCHIEI am informed by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses that a circular intimating increase of pay to the lighthouse keepers was issued last week. The retiring allowance to the Scottish lighthouse keepers is and will continue to be on the same basis as that given to the Irish and English keepers. I have been informed by the Commissioners that they propose to put their keepers on the same footing in the matter of holidays as the keepers in the sister services are on.