HC Deb 01 June 1933 vol 278 cc2060-1
52 and 53. Mr. McGOVERN

asked the Lord Advocate (1) what action, if any, has been taken with regard to the complaint lodged with the police authorities in Glasgow or the procurator fiscal regarding the action of three Glasgow magistrates who were found drinking after licensed hours during a police raid on premises known as the Royal Restaurant, West Nile Street, Glasgow;

(2) what, if any, action has been taken with regard to the complaint lodged with the police authorities in Glasgow or the procurator fiscal regarding the action of one of the magistrates of the city of Glasgow who entered a public house known as the Hole in the Wall, 117, Virginia Street, and demanded the sum of £50 to assist in securing the renewal of his licence, threatened the publican with a knife, and created a breach of the peace?

Mr. SKELTON

No complaint has been made to the Crown Office or to the Procurator Fiscal with regard to the matters referred to in the two questions. My right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate is, however, informed that a magistrate was to-day convicted in the Stipendiary Magistrates Court on a charge of disorderly conduct in the public house known as the Hole in the Wall and was fined £5. The Lord Advocate has called for a report on the allegations contained in each question.

Mr. McGOVERN

Is the Under-Secretary aware that after this incident took place in the Hole in the Wall the magistrate went to the appeal court and voted for the restoration of this licence? If the Secretary of State has no power will he seek power to take these men off the licensing bench?

Mr. SKELTON

That is an entirely different question.

Viscountess ASTOR

Does he not consider that if there were more qualified women magistrates this sort of thing would not happen?

Mr. McGOVERN

In regard to the first question, can the Under-Secretary give me any information regarding the police raid which took place on the Royal Restaurant? Is he inquiring into that?

Mr. SKELTON

I have nothing further to add to what I have said—namely, that the Lord Advocate has called for a report on each set of allegations, and until that report has been received I cannot usefully say anything.