§ 4. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Attorney-General whether it is his intention to introduce an alteration in the official form of recommendation required to be submitted to the Lord Chancellor in respect of persons applying to be appointed commissioners for oaths.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is very important that commissioners for oaths should be persons who may be relied on to perform the duties of the office strictly and conscientiously. No complaints have reached the Lord Chancellor that the precautions now taken are unnecessary. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has no present intention of introducing any alteration, but if the hon. Member has any suggestions to make, I shall be happy to bring them to the attention of my noble Friend.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn view of the fact that the form in question requires it to be certified that the applicant is well disposed towards His Majesty's Government, will the hon. and learned Gentleman reconsider the matter in view of the fact that that attitude of mind towards His Majesty's Government is confined to its own members?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI should want to scrutinise the form very carefully before I could accept the implication in the hon. Gentleman's question.