§ 35. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he has considered the petition sent to him by 245 local ratepayers in the Kingskettle district of Fife protesting against the recent action of the Fife County Council in filling the vacancy in the Kingskettle district caused by the death of the late Mr. W. Dawson; and what steps he proposes to take to meet the expressed wishes of the local community.
Mr. JohnstonI have considered the petition referred to. While I have no power to intervene in the filling of vacancies on county councils, I have on several occasions impressed upon local authorities the view of the Government that persons co-opted to fill such vacancies should, where the person creating the vacancy has been elected on a party basis, be a member of the same party. I am bringing to the notice of the County Council of Fife the contention that, in the 19 case in question, the former member did not, in fact, belong to the same political party as the person appointed to the vacancy. I understand that the matter is likely to be further considered by the county council on 27th instant.