§ 53. Mr. WATTasked the Lord Advocate whether a new sheriff-substitute has been appointed by him to Portree, Isle of Skye; and, if so, will he say whom he has appointed and to what branch of the legal 1024 profession he belonged; what is his standing in that profession; and whether he has any knowledge of the Gaelic language, which is the only language spoken by the majority of the people, in his jurisdiction?
§ Mr. UREMr. C. P. Boswell has been appointed as sheriff-substitute at Portree. He is a member of the Scottish Bar of upwards of twenty-two years' standing. He does not know Gaelic. A knowledge of that language is not required for the efficient performance of the duties of the office.
§ Mr. WATTIs it not a fact that the inhabitants under this jurisdiction can speak no other language than Gaelic?
§ Mr. URENo, Sir. There are five to one of the number who can speak English. The exact figures, according to the last Census, are 1,959 who speak Gaelic alone, and 10,007 who speak English as well.
§ 54. Mr. WATTasked how many solicitors there are in Scotland, and how many sheriff-substituteships these hold among them; how many practising advocates there are, and how many sheriff-substituteships they hold among them; and why so few of the former have been appointed, especially in the last three years?
§ Mr. UREThe number of solicitors is approximately 3,397, of practising advocates approximately 198. Four sheriffs substitute are solicitors, forty-five are advocates. There is no reason for the fact to which my hon. Friend calls attention in the last part of the question except a desire to secure the services of the best men for the office.
§ Mr. WATTIs the only stronghold of privilege which the right hon. Gentleman is not going to attack the Bar in Scotland?
§ Sir G. YOUNGERIs it not a fact that a solicitor in large practice would never look at a sheriff-substituteship?