§ Mr. FERGUSONasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that Mr. Robinson, solicitor, has been appointed temporarily for 12 months, which becomes permanent, to the procurator fiscal staff at Hamilton Sheriff Court, over the heads of much older solicitors and others; and will he inquire into the circumstances of this case?
Mr. ADAMSONI have made inquiry regarding the recent deputation granted to Mr. John Young Robertson to act as Depute Procurator Fiscal at Hamilton, which is presumably the appointment to which the hon. Al ember refers. The deputation was granted by the Procurator Fiscal with the consent of the Lord Advocate under Section 24 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act, 1907, is for 12 months, and does not become permanent. The holder is not required to give his whole time to the duties of the office, which is remunerated out of an allowance of £3 per week made to the Procurator Fiscal. I have no reason to believe that Mr. Robertson was preferred to much older solicitors or others whose services could have been commanded by the remuneration available, or that Mr. Robertson is not in every way qualified to discharge the duties of the office.