HC Deb 18 February 1887 vol 311 cc25-6
MR. F. W. MACLEAN (Oxford, Woodstock)

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to give effect to, or take any action upon, the Report (dated the 7th August, 1885) of the Committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor to inquire into the subject of the existing Rules as to the distribution of business in the Courts and Chambers of the Chancery Division, and the distribution of the Clerical Staff?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

The Report in question was, in fact, considered very carefully immediately after it was presented, and so many of the recommendations as appeared to be matters of practice requiring Rules of Court were adopted by the Rule Committee of Judges in the issue of the Rules of the Supreme Court of December, 1885. The working of those Rules, and the observance of uniformity of practice in the Courts and Chambers of the Chancery Division, as recommended by the Committee, rests with the Judges of that Division themselves, and not with the Go- vernment. The remaining recommendations of the Committee, as the hon. and learned Member is aware, are based upon the assumption that a sixth Judge should be added to the Chancery Division, a condition precedent depending upon the sanction of Parliament.