§ 41. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister what arrangements he is making to enable Scottish Members to have the advantage of legal advice on Bills, etc., in Debate, in view of the fact that the Lord Advocate is not to have a seat in the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Secretary for Scotland will deal with all legal questions in the House of Commons. If, however, hon. Members on any legal matter arising in connection with business in the House desire to have direct contact with the Law Officers for Scotland, arrangements will be made for their wishes to be met.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow will the Secretary for Scotland be able to answer any legal questions arising on the discussion of Bills going through the Scottish Standing Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. Friend might just wait and see.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill it be arranged as in the last. Parliament?
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the Lord Advocate be in personal attendance when Scottish Members are meeting in Standing Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I believe that that is the intention.
§ 42. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he hopes to secure a Solicitor-General for Scotland who will have a seat in the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAn announcement will be made without delay. It is 1300 not proposed, for the present, that the Solicitor-General should have a seat in this House.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANAre we to understand that on the Scottish business which is to be debated on the Estimates in this House, we are not to have any of the advice that comes from the Scottish Law Officers who are usually associated with these affairs?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes not the Prime Minister remember his own and his party's opposition in last November to the continued absence of both Scottish Law Officers from this House, and does he, as the Leader of the Democratic party, think that it is fair to those of us who come from Scotland that we should have neither of our legal advisers in this House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I indicated in the reply to the question which I have just answered, the arrangement is for the present.