§ 26. Mr. J. P. MORRISasked the Home Secretary if he will furnish the number of occasions on which grand juries have cut bills at assizes and quarter sessions for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the percentage of the so cut bills to the number of indictments examined?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThe latest figures available are those for 1930, and are as follows: At assizes, 3,324 persons were sent for trial and 42 bills were ignored. At quarter sessions, 5,060 persons were sent for trial and 39 bills were ignored. These figures do not include cases where a bill was ignored, but subsequently a 1803 true bill was found against the same person on a lesser charge. Figures for those cases are net available.
§ Mr. MORRISIn view of the small number of bills out by grand juries at quarter sessions, and for reasons that I advanced on Monday, will the right hon. Gentleman, when time permits, consider the advisability of introducing legislation for the abolition of grand juries at quarter sessions?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThat question is under consideration.