§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid.)I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he can state the reasons why, in the scales of general precedence in Scotland, published in the London Gazette of March 14th current, precedence in Scotland is given to Dukes of England over Dukes of Scotland, whilst Dukes of Great Britain come last, and similarly with regard to other titles, the holders of English titles taking 201 precedence of holders of Scotch titles; and whether such table of precedence in Scotland is compatible with the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland.
*MR. SCOTT DICKSONI would refer the hon. Member to Article 23 of the Act of Union, which clearly defines the order of precedence between members of Scottish, English, and British Peerages in the sense of the scale of precedence which has been recently issued.
§ MR. CALDWELLIs there not this important difference in the case of Scotch Peers who by the Treaty of Union become Members of the House of Lords, that they sit in England and attend Court in England, whereas in the present case we are dealing with precedence limited to Scotland alone?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Before the Lord-Advocate answers, may I ask where do the Irish Dukes come in?
*MR. SCOTT DICKSONI have enough to do with Scotch Dukes. According to the right construction of the statute, I think the view of the hon. Member is not sound, and that the procedure adopted in the scale of precedence published is the right one.
§ MR. CALDWELLCan you explain why it is that the question of precedence should be broken up into nationalities, and not be made applicable to the United Kingdom as a whole?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! The hon. Member will no doubt find other opportunities of arguing this question.