§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a sergeant, Norman Morrison, was dismissed from the Argyllshire police force by the chief constable for refusing to leave the police union; that at the request of the county council the then Secretary for Scotland had him reinstated with no loss in rank; that the Kilmarnock Town Council, without considering the Report of the tribunal, but accepting the advice of the Scottish Office that it would be illegal to reinstate ex-constables Moore and Hill, decided to take no further action; and whether he can state the reason for the difference in the action of the Scottish Office in the two cases?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs regards the first and second parts of the question, Sergeant Morrison was not dismissed1926W from the Argyllshire police force. He was allowed to tender his resignation, but before it became operative it was decided, on the recommendation of the Chief Constable, that Morrison should continue in the force. As Morrison's connection with the force was not severed, no question of reinstatement arose. As regards the third part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his question on the 20th instant. As regards the last part of the question, the facts in Morrison's case are fundamentally different from those in the case of the two ex-constables to whom the hon. Member refers.