§ Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that a Petition from the parish council of Perth was presented to the Secretary for Scot land, on 9th February, 1905, praying that the parishes of Perth and Kinnoull should be amalgamated for the purposes of Poor Law administration; that an inquiry into the merits of the question was held by the Local Government Board for Scotland in the summer of 1907; that up to the present date the result of that inquiry has not been communicated to the petitioners; and that, owing to this delay and the con sequent uncertainty which prevails on this question, annoyance has been aroused in the districts affected; and, in view of the preparations now in progress for the forthcoming elections to the parish councils, will he take steps for the decision of the Local Government Board for Scotland to be made without delay and communicated to the interested parties in the parishes of Perth and Kinnoull?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)I am aware of the application in question and of the inquiry held by the Sheriff of Perth. The issues raised in the case made it advisable to await the Report of the Poor Law Commission before coming to a decision. The matter is one for determination, not by the Local Government Board for Scotland, but by the Secretary for Scotland, and I understand that a' communication will be made to those interested at an early date.