HC Deb 12 November 1917 vol 99 cc20-1
40. Mr. WATT

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the number of cases that came before the sheriff principal in the shires of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland in the year 1915 was two, and that the salary paid to the sheriff-principal for deciding such two cases was £775; and whether any consolidation is proposed to be brought about in order to cheapen in war-time the administration of justice?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)

Beyond saying that the amount of the salary and the number of appeal cases for 1915 are correctly given in the question, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend on the 8th of this month regarding another sheriffdom.

Mr. WATT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that nobody seriously takes his allegation that the sheriff-principal has other duties than judicial duties to perform?

Mr. MUNRO

I think it would just be as unsafe to measure the activities of the sheriff-principal by the number of appeals he hears as to measure the political activities of my hon. Friend by the number of questions he puts.