§ 20. Mr. McKinlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Public Authorities Protection Act has been relaxed in England whereby court proceedings can be taken outwith the six months period; and will he take steps to apply similar relaxation in Scotland?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston)The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. 1471 The Act, however, applies only in civil and not in criminal cases, As regards the second part of the Question, the possibility of amending the law in Scotland was considered in peace time but the subject was controversial and it was not found possible to make progress before the outbreak of war. I am aware of only one Scottish case in which the adoption of the English amendment would have permitted an action to go forward.