§ Sir HENRY KIMBERasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that in the book of rules and regulations governing the appointment of inspector of poor issued by the Local Government Board for Scotland it is stated that a practising solicitor, procurator fiscal, or factor shall not hold the said appointment, and that notwithstanding these regulations the Local Government Board of Scotland have sanctioned, although their attention was drawn to the facts, the appointment as inspector of poor of the parish of Linlithgow of a person holding all the offices besides a number of other public offices; and, if so, whether he will require the Local Government Board for Scotland to give their reasons for sanctioning the appointment, and, in view of their own regulations, to withdraw their sanction and to reinstate the old inspector, whom the parish council has appointed assistant inspector with practically all the work, with the exception of a small amount of clerical work, to do, or appoint a person as inspector of poor who will be able to devote the whole of his time to the duties?
§ Mr. UREI am aware that in the book of Rules and Regulations, etc., of the Local Government Board for Scotland, it is stated that a practising solicitor procurator-fiscal, or factor, ought not to hold the appointment of inspector of poor. In practice, however, these conditions are subject to modification in particular instances, and the Board invariably consider each appointment on its merits. They have made careful inquiry into the appointment of the inspector of poor of Linlithgow and were satisfied that there was no sufficient reason for interfering with the discretion of the parish council.