§ MR. ALDENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is a defensor for the poor in connection with the Edinburgh Legal Dispensary who appears in the Edinburgh Police Court; that a similar official has been appointed by the municipality of Dundee to act in the police court of that city; and whether, under these circumstances, he will use his influence to have a defensor for the poor in every police court in the Kingdom.
†See (4) Debates, clxiv.,523.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am afraid I do not see my way at present to propose legislation for the purpose of extending the operations of the Act of 1903 whereby poor prisoners can be supplied with legal assistance at the cost of the rates.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI will speak to the hon. Member and see if it is possible.
§ *MR. KEIR HARDIEDoes not the right exist in Scotland? Cannot the law between the two countries be assimilated?
§ MR. GLADSTONEwas understood to say he did not claim we had yet arrived at perfection in this matter.
§ Lord R. CECILIt has existed in Scotland 300 years.