§ 58. Mr. McGOVERNasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the men who were convicted in the recent silk trial at Edinburgh; the sentences imposed; the amount of money involved in the alleged fraud; if they are at present liberated on bail pending appeal; and the amount of bail for each person?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)The names are Alexander Young and George Todd, the sentences three years' penal servitude and six months' respectively, the amount of money involved in the first charge was £439,000 and on the second charge, £362,000. Liberation on bail was granted in ordinary course pending appeal. The amount of the bail allowed was in each case £10.
§ Mr. McGOVERNCan the hon. Gentleman give any reason for the liberation of these men on bail of £10 with a charge of fraud to the extent of nearly £1,000,000 hanging over them; and were instructions given from the High Court to the Press not to publish the amount of bail involved?
§ Mr. SKELTONIn regard to the second part of the question, I can make no such statement. I have no information on the subject. With regard to the first part of the question, the amount of bail, the whole procedure with regard to the granting of bail, the amount, and so forth, is a matter entirely within the competence of the court.
§ Mr. McGOVERNCan the hon. Gentleman give any reason for the liberation of these men on bail of £10?
§ Mr. SKELTONI have answered that the matter is entirely in the hands of the court, but I do not think it would be improper for me to say that, as far as I understand it, the ordinary consideration with regard to the amount of bail is the question of the probability of the men turning up for trial.
§ Mr. MAXTONThis is a most extraordinary case. I want to ask if the judge granted bail of this amount, in a case where the Lord Advocate prosecuted, without consulting the Lord Advocate?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat is a question of which I require notice.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs not this the first time in the Scottish Courts that bail of £10 has been granted after a sentence of penal servitude; and can the hon. Gentleman say why the decision to grant bail was made in secret?
§ Mr. SKELTONIt is obvious that the first part of the question is one for which I require notice, and it is equally obvious that the question of granting bail is one for the sheriff.
§ Mr. McGOVERNIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, and of the information given me, and the sensational turn in this case, I will raise the matter at the very earliest possible moment on the Adjournment.