§ Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Hugh Gallacher, 300, Adelphi Street, Glasgow, was supplied with a cycle on hire purchase by Cycle Distributors, Limited, of Glasgow; that he was taken to court and ordered to pay a weekly instalment; that he carried this out and now the sum for the cycle has been fully paid; and that the firm have refused to give the man the cycle he has paid for; and what steps he proposes to take to see that this firm is prosecuted for wrongful detention of this man's property?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that the hire purchase agreement referred to was entered into in November, 1929, and being prior to the date of the Hire Purchase and Small Debt (Scotland) Act, 1932, it is not governed by the provisions of that Act. The bicycle was returned to the 197W firm, and thereafter proceedings were taken against the hirer in the Small Debt Court and decree obtained on 9th March, 1931, and all the sums which the hirer was ordered to pay by the decree of the court have been paid. I further understand that the bicycle has been retained by the firm in accordance with the terms of the agreement for the hire of the bicycle. Inquiry has been made by the Procurator Fiscal, and I am informed that this inquiry has established no ground for criminal proceedings.