§ 2.4 p.m.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend the Earl of Selkirk, I beg to ask the question which stands on the Order Paper in his name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can now make any statement in regard to the matters under investigation arising from the Public Registers and Records (Scotland) Bill.]
§ LORD MORRISONMy Lords, I am informed that the Committee over which Lord Macmillan presides has completed its investigation into the first head of the terms of reference—namely, to review further the processes of the registration of writs in the Sasines Office—and that a Report on this subject is expected at an early date. As soon as the Report of the Committee is received, the Government will give further consideration to the Public Registers and Records (Scotland) Bill.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, may I ask a question arising out of that answer? If this Report, when issued, is not favourable to the whole of the Public Registers and Records (Scotland) Bill, will His Majesty's Government consider confining the Bill to Clause I, on which we are all 78 agreed, and omitting the rest of the Bill, so as not to subject the Public Register system of Scotland to anything that might appear to be piecemeal legislation?
§ LORD MORRISONMy Lords, as the Report has not yet been received I am afraid that the noble Lord's question is somewhat too hypothetical[...] for me to be able to answer it now.