§ Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether a Report has been received from the sheriff-substitute 834W of Dumbartonshire with respect to the granting a club licence in the burgh of Kirkintilloch; if so, whether it will be Published; if not, will he institute a public inquiry into the circumstances connected with the granting of this licence;
(2) whether he is aware that a club licence has been granted in the burgh of Kirkintilloch by the sheriff-substitute of Dumbartonshire, nothwithstanding that objections had been lodged by the magistrates and town council of the burgh against the granting of this licence; and will he state whether, since the magistrates and town council have a statutory right to lodge objections to the granting of such a licence, why the sheriff-substitute granted this licence without giving the magistrates and town council an opportunity of submitting evidence in support of their objections;
(3) whether he is aware that the electors of the burgh of Kirkintilloch, at a poll held under the provisions of the Scottish Temperance Act, decided by a very considerable majority in favour of no licences being granted within that area; and, if so, will he undertake to secure the carrying out of their decision?
§ Mr. MUNROI am aware that a "no-licence" resolution was carried in the burgh of Kirkintilloch,(that the sheriff recently authorised the registration of a club in that area, and that the magistrates and town council lodged objections to the application. The sheriff-substitute has furnished me with a full report, from which I am satisfied that the procedure followed was entirely regular, and that there is no necessity for the inquiry suggested.