§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to arrangements for the appointment, operation and co-ordination of justices of the peace in his plans for reorganisation of local government in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend intends to maintain the present arrangements for justices of the peace in the context of any amendments to the District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 required to transfer responsibility for the district courts to the new local authorities proposed in paragraph 3.38 of "Shaping the New Future—The new Councils" (Cm 2267, July 1993).