§ Mr. WATTasked the Lord Advocate how many appointments of sheriff-substitutes have been made since January, 1906, and how many of these have been solicitors and how many advocates?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Mr. Hunter)Eleven sheriff-substitutes have been appointed since January, 1906, of whom one was a law agent.
§ Mr. WATTasked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that in some Sheriff Courts in Scotland sheriff-substitutes occasionally remit to their clerks to take evidence in small executory cases while the Courts are sitting, and that those clerks who are salaried officials charge fees for their services; if so, will he say if this practice has the sanction of his Department; and, if not, will he take steps to put a stop to it?
Mr. HUNTERI am not aware of any such practice as that referred to, but if my hon. Friend will bring any cases to my notice I will take steps to have them inquired into.
§ Captain WARINGasked can the right hon. Gentleman state or will he agree to a Return showing for the last four years the number of appeals made to the sheriffs principal and the number of appeals made in the same period to the Court of Session?
Mr. HUNTERMy hon. Friend will find the number of appeals from sheriffs-substitute to sheriffs disposed of in each Sheriff Court in Tables XXV. and XXVI. of the Civil Court Statistics of the Report on the Judicial Statistics of Scotland for each of the years 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909; and the number of appeals to the Court of Session in the Tables applicable to the Court of Session in the same Reports. The Report for 1910 has not yet been published, but its issue will not be long delayed.
§ Captain WARINGasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to establish in Scotland an Appeal Court constituted in a manner different to that of the sheriff principal, where at the present time the opinion of one judge is revised by one other judge and the revising judge has no opportunity of seeing witnesses?