§ 5. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to a recent case in Glasgow, at the instance of the Food Controller, for a breach of Food Control Regulations, where the man charged was defended without success by a sheriff-principal; is he aware that it is one of the duties of a sheriff to adjudicate upon breaches of the Food Control Regulations; and that defence of such breaches is inconsistent with his duties; and will he introduce legislation to put sheriff-principals on the same footing as sheriff-substitutes in that respect?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)I am aware of the case referred to. A sheriff-principal is not prohibited from private practice. He does not, however, appear in cases within his own sheriffdom, on which it might fall to him to adjudicate, whether food cases or others. The answer to the two last parts of the question is in the negative.