§ 72. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that his circular of February dealing with one-man businesses, which was issued to tribunals, was not known to several tribunals up to 30th April, or to many members of the legal profession pleading before tribunals, or to men applying to tribunals for exemption; will he say if any means was taken to make such circular known to the public; and, if not, will he in future make the people aware of the rights they possess in appearing before these bodies in so far as these rights arise out of circulars from his Department?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)The reply to the first part of my hon. and learned Friend's question is in the negative. As the circular was issued to all local tribunals and Appeal Tribunals in February, I am unable to understand the suggestion that it was not known to them up to the 30th April. Means were taken to make the circular known to the public by placing it on sale and by communicating copies to the newspapers in the usual way. In these circumstances, the last part of the question does not arise. I can, however, assure my hon. and learned Friend that I am anxious that the terms of such circulars should be made known to the public as widely as is possible.