HC Deb 21 February 1961 vol 635 cc281-2
1. Mr. Willis

asked the Lord Advocate what matters are at present before the Scottish Law Reform Committee.

The Lord Advocate (Mr. William Grant)

The Law Reform Committee for Scotland has before it, at present. one remit, namely:

The law relating to civil liability for loss, injury and damage caused—

  1. (a)by animals;
  2. (b) by dangerous agencies escaping from land.

Mr. Willis

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether he has yet decided to remit to the Committee the subject of rights of appeal in contempt of court cases about which I asked him last year? Will he also say when it is intended to implement the recommendations of the Committee in so far as they have not yet been implemented?

The Lord Advocate

I will certainly consider remitting to the Committee the question of the rights of appeal in contempt cases. As far as the implementation of the existing Reports are concerned, I think that we have not done too badly. Out of the ten, we have implemented two—and I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis) for implementing one—and two will be implemented if Bills before the House pass through this Session. In another two cases no action is recommended. Out of the remaining four, two have to be considered against a wider aspect of sheriff court procedure as a whole, one in regard to maintenance orders involves consultation with Commonwealth Governments and the final one was only published in December last year.