§ 5. Mr. STEPHENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to state the names of the committee set up to inquire into the question of imprisonment for debt in Scotland?
1. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state the personnel of the committee he has promised to set up to inquire into the operation of hire purchase agreements in Scotland and the imprisonment of debtors for failure to maintain their payments, and the terms of reference to that committee?
Mr. W. ADAMSONI am in communication with certain parties whom I propose to appoint, but have not yet received their consent to serve, and I am not therefore in a position to announce the personnel of the committee. The terms of reference will be "To inquire into and report on the existing law relating to contracts of hire purchase, with reference particularly to the conditions commonly inserted in such contracts and the sanction of imprisonment by which such contracts may in certain circumstances be enforced, and to report thereon and on the question what amendments, if any, on the law or administration relating to such contracts are desirable."
§ Mr. STEPHENCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will be in a position to give an answer if I put down another question in a week's time?
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSDo Scotsmen ever get into debt?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI hope that the Secretary of State for Scotland is going to see to it that persons other than lawyers are appointed to this committee. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because there are more of common humanity than just lawyers. That is the point.