§ MR. CONOR O'KELLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if his attention has been called to the action of the licensing magistrates at Coatbridge at the licensing court on 9th April in postponing the hearing of applications for renewal of certificates by three licensed publicans of Coatbridge to 15th April, and recommending them to close their premises meanwhile, on the ground that they disregarded the recommendation of the magistrates to close their houses on the day of the funeral of Her late Majesty the Queen; whether his attention has been directed to the statement by one of the magistrates, that the manner in which their recommendation was observed would largely influence the court in deciding the applications; 62 whether the publicans concerned were bound to close their premises on the occasion referred to; and whether the magistrates were empowered to order these publicans to close their premises as a punishment for disregard of their recommendation; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)The answer to the first and second paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. In answer to the third paragraph, I cannot find any warrant in the licensing statutes for the recommendation made by the magistrates. In answer to the fourth, I have no jurisdiction over the magistrates sitting as a licensing court, and I do not therefore propose to take any action.