§ Mr. SHINWELLasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of 2320W Health whether he is aware that Patrick Hyland, 21, Abercorn Place, Whinchburgh, has been cited to appear at the Sheriff Court, Linlithgow, on or before the 23rd April, to lodge defences in respect of proceedings instituted by the Oakbank Oil Company in connection with eviction proceedings; that the said Patrick Hyland is a deportee at present interned in Ireland, and is therefore unable to appear; and whether, having regard to the difficulty which his family of eight are in owing to his absence, he will take steps to either arrange for Mr. Hyland's release, so that he might defend himself, or, alternatively, to cause a suspension of proceedings?
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONMy Noble Friend has no information regarding the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative. He has no power to suspend proceedings of the nature referred to, and he is not in a position, on the information before him, to consider whether any other action on his part is called for.