§ Mr. McKINLAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the charges made in the city council regarding the administration of the licensing bench in Glasgow; whether he has had any requests from any committee of the Glasgow Corporation, or from 854W any other official source, for a judicial inquiry under the Tribunals Act; and, if so, does he propose to set up such an inquiry and when?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe Secretary of State for Scotland is aware of the general but so far undefined charges against unspecified members of the corporation of the city of Glasgow. He is fully alive to the difficulty of maintaining effective local government and of retaining the services as public representatives of men and women of character and ability so long as the present atmosphere exists in the municipal government of Glasgow. An exhaustive inquiry at the instance of the Lord Advocate has been conducted by the Procurator-Fiscal. His report is presently being considered by the Lord Advocate. No request from an official body for the appointment of a tribunal of inquiry under the Tribunals Act has been received, but I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the conditions essential to a resolution under the Statute. One of these conditions is that the matter to be inquired into must be a definite matter of urgent public importance.