Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Lord Advocate whether it is necessary for justices of the peace to take the oath of allegiance again at the beginning of a new Reign, looking to the terms of the oath already taken by them upon their first appointment to the office?
§ Mr. UREThe question raised by my hon. Friend is at present under consideration with a view to the possibility of obtaining an authoritative decision on a point in regard to which different opinions have been held.
Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked whether a fee of 5s. is payable by Justices of the Peace not only on the first, but on any subsequent occasion when they take the oath of allegiance; and, if so, under what authority or regulations such fees are exigible?
§ Mr. UREThe fees payable to clerks of the peace are regulated by Act of Sederunt under the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 1903. The Act of Sederunt in force includes provision for a fee of 5s. "on qualifying," and I understand that any demand for payment of a fee on renewing an oath is based on this provision. I do not regard any such demand as justified by the terms of the Act of Sederunt.