HC Deb 31 May 1883 vol 279 cc1306-7
SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether, before introducing into this House the Criminal Appeal Bill, Her Majesty's Government had sought for and obtained, from the Judges of the High Court, any opinion on the principles or details of the measure, or, if not, whether they will obtain such opinion from the Judges, either corporately or individually, and lay it upon the Table, before the House proceeds with the Report stage of the Bill?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

said, he was sorry that his hon. Friend, should have put himself to the trouble and inconvenience of asking this Question; because, on the 13th of March, the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. Plunket) put identically the same Question. The Answer which he then gave his hon. Friend would find at page 366 of Hansard's Parliamentary Debates of this year.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked whether, before the Report stage, his hon. and learned Friend would obtain the opinions of the Judges and lay them on the Table?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

said, he stated at the time that he had submitted the heads of the Bill to certain Judges, and among others he mentioned the Chief Justice of England.