§ 1. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that at midnight, on Saturday, 29th August, William Brown, 177, Sandyfaulds Street, and Alex Grassie, 135, Sandyfaulds Street, Glasgow, were arrested at their homes on the charge of shop-beraking; that their homes were searched, but nothing was found in any way showing their guilt; that they were detained in prison until Tuesday morning; that they had never been in any trouble before and were not concerned in any act of shop-breaking; that the wife of one of them was in an advanced state of pregnancy and was seriously affected in health as a result; whether he has caused inquiry to be made; and what steps he proposes to take to have these men compensated?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Elliot)I am aware that in the early morning of Sunday, 30th August, the two men referred to were arrested on a charge of breaking into a public house, that Mr. Brown's house was searched by the police but no incriminating evidence was found. I am also aware that both men were liberated on Tuesday, 1st September, the proceedings against them having been dropped; and that neither of the men had been previously convicted. I understand that the wife of Mr. Brown was in an advanced state of pregnancy at the time her husband was arrested, but I have no information as to whether her health was affected. As regards the last two parts of the question the cases have, as I recently informed the hon. Member in correspondence, been the subject of 196 inquiry by the police authority of Glasgow who, after carefully considering the whole circumstances, decided to take no action. Any question as to payment of compensation in these cases is not a matter in which I have any jurisdiction.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCould the right hon. Gentleman not go into this matter again, seeing that the two men were in prison for such a time without any charge having been made against them?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am afraid it is not possible or competent for me to express any opinion as to whether compensation should or should not be paid by a police authority.