§ Mr. WATTasked the Lord Advocate if he will grant a Return of the number of cases in connection with workmen's compensation raised in the sheriff courts of the county of Lanark during the period from 1st October, 1908, to 31st March, 1909, under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, Common Law, under the Employers Liability Act, 1880, at Common Law, or alternatively under the last-mentioned Act, respectively; the date when each case was called into court; the date when the proof in each case was fixed to begin; and the date in each case of the interlocutor disposing of the same?
§ Mr. UREThe information desired by the hon. Member would entail the examination of a large number of cases at present depending before the court, and would require the services of members of the staff for a considerable period. As the work before the courts fully engages the time of the present staff it would not be in the public interest that they should be withdrawn from their ordinary duties unless upon an occasion of very grave urgency. The hon. Member may rest assured that the expediency of an early decision of cases between masters and workmen is fully appreciated, and that measures will be taken to have that attained as early as possible