asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to assist local authorities who wish to employ stipendiary magistrates.

The District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 provides for the employment by local authorities of stipendiary magistrates, subject to my approval, and I shall consider carefully any proposal by a local authority wishing to make such an appointment. Only in a few areas in Scotland, however, would it be possible for a stipendiary magistrate to be kept fully employed.