§ Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that a committee has been set up in England to inquire into the question of legal aid; and if he proposes to set up a similar committee for Scotland.
Mr. JohnstonThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, a Committee inquired into this subject in Scotland in 1937, but it was not found practicable at that time to take action upon their recommendations. During the past two years the Lord Advocate and I have been endeavouring to find means for improving the existing scheme without legislation, but this has not so far been found possible. We propose, however, to give further consideration to the position in Scotland, when the Report of the Committee now sitting in England has been received.