Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Lord Advocate whether he proposes to introduce legislation giving effect to the recommendations contained in the Report of the Departmental Committee on the 2699W operation in Scotland of the law relating to inebriates and their detention in reformatories and retreats, issued in June of last year; and whether, looking to the difficulty of getting Procurators Fiscal in Scotland to proceed against criminal habitual drunkards by way of indictment, he will consider as to the amendment of Section 23 of the Inebriates Act, 1898, so that its provisions shall apply to the case of offences tried summarily as well as those tried by indictment?
§ Mr. UREI am not aware that there is any difficulty in getting Procurators Fiscal in Scotland to proceed against criminal habitual drunkards by way of indictment, provided that evidence is available sufficient to prove that the accused is an habitual drunkard. The propriety of introducing legislation to give effect to the recommendations contained in the Report referred to by my hon. Friend is under consideration.