§ Q5. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Prime Minister in view of the fact that there has been no Solicitor-General for Scotland in the House for over three and a half years and no Lord Advocate for over a year, and in view of the size of the current programme of Scottish legislation, if he will advise the appointment of an hon. Member, with legal qualifications, to one of those positions.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs it not the case that this. House has been deprived for years of either or both Law Officers and that this morning the Scottish Grand Committee was in considerable difficulty 566 because there was no one present to advise hon. Members on both sides of the Committee on a complicated legal Measure? Is it not the case that even if someone becomes available, the candidate at Dumfries, we shall still be short of another Law Officer?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope that next week part of the troubles of my hon. Friend—[Hon. Members: "He is not the Prime Minister's hon. Friend."]—will be resolved.
§ Mr. SteeleIs the Prime Minister aware that the Scottish Grand Committee has been getting on very well without a Law Officer and that the experience the Committee has had with previous Law Officers provided from among hon. Members opposite tends only to add to the confusion?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think I can accept that.