§ MR. BARNESI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in the recent licensing court for the Clydebank division of Dumbartonshire one of the magistrates who assisted in granting six licences had signed a petition in favour of one of the applicants, and that this petition was actually presented in court whilst the magistrate occupied a seat on the bench; and whether he proposes to inquire into the validity of a licence granted under such circumstances.
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (MR. SINCLAIR, Forfarshire)The Secretary for Scotland has made inquiries on the point raised by the hon. Member and is informed that "No magistrate sitting in the Burgh Licensing Court signed any petition in favour of any of the six licenses granted in the court" to which the hon Member refers.