16. Mr. MACLEANasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that on Friday night, 2nd May, Hugh Campbell was taken from his home at No. 30, Hamilton Street, Govan, by two men and a sheriff's officer and lodged in Duke Street prison at the instance of a 1603 hire purchase firm for failure to return a cycle he had obtained on the hire purchase system; that Campbell owed £1 10s., and had been unemployed from 4th February until the beginning of April, but had paid £1 off this debt on 14th April, which was returned by the firm on the same day, and on 19th April had offered the full sum of £1 10s., and an arrangement to pay 13s. 4d. expenses imposed by instalments; that this payment and arrangement was also refused by the firm, and arrest and imprisonment made on 2nd May; and if this man is still in prison?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that Mr. Campbell owed 30s. and 16s. of expenses, and he sent £1 on 14th April, that this was returned with an intimation that in view of previous delays the whole sum due must be paid, and that no offer was made prior to Mr. Campbell's imprisonment to pay 30s. in full or to pay the expenses by instalments. An offer to pay 30s. was made on the 3rd May. The creditor decided to accept this and to allow Mr. Campbell time to pay the expenses, and, on payment of the 30s. on 5th May Mr. Campbell was immediately liberated from prison.
Mr. MACLEANIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that this payment of 30s. was offered on the 19th April in the presence of a witness and was refused by two members of this particular firm, and do the expenses which this man is being asked to pay include, in addition to the 16s. mentioned, the expense of taking him from his home to the prison?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWith regard to the latter part, I imagine it would be so, from what I have learned about previous cases. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I have no information about the offer to pay on the 19th April, but, if my hon. Friend wishes, I will make further inquiries.
Mr. MACLEANWill the hon. Member make inquiries whether or not that is an actual fact, as I have seen the witness, and, if it is, can anything be done to prevent this man paying additional expenses that ought never to have been incurred if this firm had accepted his original offer?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThat will certainly be inquired into.
17. Mr. MACLEANasked the Lord Advocate the number of people in Scotland who have been imprisoned in Scottish prisons on instructions from hire purchase firms for debt or, as stated in the order of imprisonment, for failure to implement decree ad factum practandum, during the year 1929 and the first three months of 1930; the longest period of imprisonment served during those periods; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction that exists in Scotland over the abuse of this order, he will favourably consider the setting up of a committee to inquire into the grievance and recommend proposals for its amendment?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe number of persons imprisoned in Scotland at the instance of hire purchase firms in 1929 was 265, and, in the first three months of 1930, 25; the longest periods of imprisonment served during these periods were 119 days and 24 days respectively. My right hon. Friend has had under consideration, in consultation with the Lord Advocate, various complaints which have reached them in recent months regarding cases which have arisen under hire purchase agreements, and he has decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the matter.
Mr. MACLEANWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that information, may I ask if all the facts in these cases will be taken into consideration, and if, in addition, the new hire-purchase agreement will be incorporated in any recommendations made by that Committee that will prevent these firms from visiting punishment in this way?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWhat will arise under the deliberation's of the Committee I could not very well say. All that I can say to the hon. Member at the moment is that the Committee will be appointed with the greatest expedition, that it will be a strong Committee, and that no relevant considerations will be omitted.