§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That a sum, not exceeding £54,287, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1903, for the salaries and expenses of the Lord Advocate's Department, and other law charges, and the salaries and expenses of the courts of law and justice in Scotland."
MR. PARKER SMITHcalled attention to the position of the Procurator Fiscals of Glasgow and the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire. The population of Glasgow and the Lower Ward included more than a fifth of the whole population of Scotland, and the amount of serious crime there, was about a half of that which occurred in the whole country. He wished to bring to the attention of the Lord Advocate that the office of the Procurator Fiscal in Glasgow was very much undermanned and was not able to overtake the work which with the enormous increase of the population in the last twenty years had been thrown upon it. An increase of staff was absolutely required, because the number of investigations which had now to be made in consequence of the increase of the population had nearly doubled. Applications had been made for additional staff with the support of the sheriff of the county who was responsible in these matters, but these applications had not as yet been complied with.
§ MR. WEIRcalled attention to an item for the salaries of clerks in the Lord Advocate's office. He hoped there was no sweating going on in the Lord Advocate's department. He asked the right hon. Gentleman to explain fully how the money was distributed. There were other charges in the accounts which to his mind were not satisfactory. He instanced the charge of five guineas a day for the expenses of legal gentlemen 1187 who came to London. Scotch lawyers were hardly likely to refuse a trip to London with five guineas a day to the good. Referring to the salaries of Sheriffs and Sheriffs Substitute, he said he understood that they were paid at an extremely low rate. He urged that they ought to receive adequate remuneration for their services.
It being half-past Seven of the clock, the Deputy Chairman left the Chair to make his Report to the House.
Resolution to be reported To-morrow; Committee also Report Progress; to sit again this evening.