Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that in Scotland, when stolen goods are found by the police at a pawnbroker's, the pawnbroker is compelled in some instances to give them up without compensation, while in other cases he receives part and in some instances full compensation; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to secure uniformity of practice in these cases?
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Mr. McKINNON WOODUnder Section 30 of the Pawnbrokers' Act, 1872, to which I would refer the hon. Member, any Criminal Court in which proceedings are taken in respect of stolen goods found in possession of a pawnbroker has full discretion to determine, in view of the circumstances of each case, what payment, if any, shall be made by the owner of the goods to the pawnbroker as a condition of their recovery. I do not think that a rigid uniformity of practice in such cases would tend to a more equitable adjustment of the rights of parties.