§ 35. Mr. MACLEANasked the Prime Minister whether the appointment of a Lord Advocate and a Solicitor-General for Scotland who are not Members of Parliament is an indication that those positions are to be considered free from political partisanship; and, if so, whether the patronage which has formerly been at the disposal of the Lord Advocate will be placed at the disposal of any other member of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Lord Privy Seal to the hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on the 14th February. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The patronage of the Lord Advocate, as to the extent of which there appears to be much misconception, will not be exercised on party political grounds whilst the present arrangement lasts.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present Lord Advocate, ever since he has been in office, has given every one of his jobs to Tories?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the Prime Minister aware that the new Lord Advocate has simply re-appointed the Advocates-Deputy, who were appointed by the last Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand that there has been some change in the matter, but the Lord Advocate consulted me before doing so, and, under the circumstances, I agreed that it would be better to let things go on as they were. If I have the opportunity and time I hope to clear out a great deal of the abuses which have gathered round the Scottish legal appointments.