§ 41. Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Lord Advocate what representations he has made to the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland.
§ The Lord Advocate (Mr. Ronald King Murray)So far I have made no representations to the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland. My Department has, however, received from the Royal Commission an invitation to submit evidence, and this is at present being considered.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWill the Lord Advocate encourage the Royal Commission to look at the whole question of jurisdiction, because if there is a case for divorce going to the sheriff's court there may be an overwhelming argument for other cases above a certain sum of money going to the Court of Session to give Scotland the best possible legal service?
§ The Lord AdvocateThe Royal Commission's main point of reference is to determine what changes, if any, are in the public interest. That is correctly the overriding concern.
§ Mr. LiptonWhat use is the Lord Advocate making of existing legal services in Scotland when dealing with the case concerning Sir Hugh Fraser which, according to the Under-Secretary of State for Trade last week, is being referred to the Lord Advocate? What is happening about that?
§ The Lord AdvocateI have the matter under consideration, but I am not in a position to make any public statement.