HC Deb 06 November 1962 vol 666 cc799-800
Q5. Mr. Willis

asked the Prime Minister who will be responsible fox the work in the House of Commons of the Scottish Law Officers.

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will deal with legal questions arising from Scottish business.

Mr. Willis

Yes, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that we have important legal Scottish Bills coming before us this Session? If the right hon. Gentleman does not think it is necessary to have the Scottish Law Officers in the House for this purpose, would he consider the suggestion made by some of us before that both those offices should be offices of profit under the Crown, barring their occupants from being in the House?

The Prime Minister

I am afraid I do not quite follow the purpose of that supplementary question. I thought that what the hon. Gentleman had in mind was that they should be Members of the House. He now suggests they should be barred from the House.

Mr. Ross

Does this mean, then, that when the Scottish Standing Committee meets the Secretary of State for Scotland is going to be in attendance? As will be remembered, the last Secretary of State did not make a habit of attending the Committee.

The Prime Minister

The Secretary of State or one of the Scottish Ministers will receive and pass on to the House such legal points as are necessary to deal with. This is a situation which is not novel. I remember it very well when I first got into the House of Commons. It is an unfortunate one, but it is not unprecedented.

Mr. G. Brown

May I ask the Prime Minister whether the fact that neither of these Scottish Law Officers is being put up for Woodside is a clear indication that the Prime Minister has already written that by-election off?

The Prime Minister

No—no more than it is a clear indication of the hopelessness of the Opposition's desire to obtain office that not a single member of the Scottish Bar sits upon the benches opposite.

Mr. Stodart

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis), who raised this Question, argued not very long ago with equal passion that the Secretary of State could just as well answer for the Lord Advocate in this House?

Mr. G. Brown

Would the PrimeMinister—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Macleod.

Mr. Hector Hughes

I think, Mr. Speaker, you did call me?

Mr. Speaker

I think that the hon. and learned Member is on this occasion mistaken.