64 and 65. Sir William Darlinģasked the Lord Advocate (1) whether he has considered a request from the General Council of Solicitors in Scotland to put in hand a consolidation of the Scottish Conveyancing Statutes; and when a start is to be made to the work;
(2) whether he is aware that the Statute Law Revision Committee consider that among other subjects the following are suitable for consolidation, namely: Court of Justiciary (Scotland), Court of Session (Scotland), Lunacy (Scotland), Roads and Bridges (Scotland), Sheriff Courts (Scotland); and what arrangements are being made for the drafting of the consolidating measures.
§ The Lord Advocate (Mr. G. R. Thomson)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are alive to the need for consolidating Scottish statute law, and the staff of my Department has recently been strengthened with this need, among others, in view. A Bill to consolidate the Scottish Education Acts is now before another place; and it is hoped to introduce an amending and consolidating Local Government Bill this session. Work on further consolidating legislation, including the consolidation of the Conveyancing Acts, will be undertaken as soon as opportunity offers.
Sir W. DarlinģWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind the possibility of the employment of ex-officers in the additional work falling to his Department?
§ The Lord AdvocateI will certainly bear that in mind.