§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Lord Advocate, with reference to a deputation which was received last March at the Scottish Office from the larger boroughs of Scotland, on the subject of the Police Weekly Rest-Day (Scotland) Bill, if the deputation were informed that they should endeavour to see their local Members of Parliament and rouse them up; whether he will explain what was meant by that suggestion, and if it was intended to shift the responsibility that should belong to the Scottish Office on to the Members of Parliament for Scotland; whether he is aware that by the shortage of police Grants Scotland is losing about £60,000 per annum; and, in view of the agitation and dissatisfaction among the police of Scotland for the weekly rest-day, as is the case in England, and the certainty of the Bill eventually becoming law in Scotland, and that thereby the expenditure of another £32,000 would be imposed on Scotland, thus giving a grand total of loss to Scotland of £92,000, if he is prepared to re-establish the police Grants in Scotland to 50 per cent., as was the case, it being admitted that the charge for police is an Imperial charge?
§ Mr. UREI am unable to accept my hon. Friend's description of what was said to the deputation referred to, and which he will find reported in the Scottish newspapers of 18th March, 1911. As he will see from these reports, there was no suggestion of shifting any responsibility. As regards the latter portion of my hon. Friend's question, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the College Division of Glasgow on 16th March, 1911, reported in the House of Commons Debates, 5th Series, Vol. xxii., col. 2562.