§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that five men have been tried before the sheriff at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court and sentenced to two months' imprisonment; that the men had to state their case in Gaelic, which had to be interpreted into English; and whether he will endeavour, when future appointments as sheriffs are made in the Highlands, to 203W arrange that a knowledge of Gaelic will be one of the qualifications?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI presume that the hon. Member refers to the five men who were tried on 1st instant on a charge of breach of interdict. If so, the answer to the second part of the question is, according to my information, in the negative. I have no evidence that a requirement such as is indicated in the last part of the question would be justified on the ground that there is any considerable number of people in the Highlands who know only Gaelic.