§ 42. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received communications from various societies of law agents in Scotland suggesting, as an alternative to the institution of a public trustee for Scotland, a compulsory audit of all trust accounts; whether his Department is prepared to accept this method of dealing with trust accounts; and whether, if adopted, it can be brought about by an administrative order or does it require legislation?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have received representations of the character referred to by my hon. Friend, but I do not know why the compulsory audit of trust accounts should be put forward as an alternative to the institution of a public trustee in Scotland, as the two proposals have different objects and each is compatible with the other. I am not yet prepared to make any statement with regard to the second part of the question. In answer to the last part of the question, I may say that, the compulsory audit of trust accounts would require legislation.