§ MR. WARRENsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Commission for Inquiry into the arrangements for taking the assizes in England and Wales are likely to make their Report, and whether any proposed redistribution of the circuits will be effected by Act of Parliament. The House was aware that a Commission had lately been issued to inquire into the state of business in the Superior Courts of common law, and especially the distribution of the circuits. He had just returned from attending the Northern Circuit at York, and was able to speak from his own knowledge 1576 of the strong feeling of curiosity which existed among the members of the bar on that circuit, and, indeed, he might say of all persons interested in the welfare of the county of York, in reference to the proposed redistribution of the circuits. He knew, also, that a similar feeling prevailed in Lancashire. He had been told, for instance, that York was to be taken From the Northern Circuit and united to the Midland, or rather, he should say, that the Midland Circuit was to be united to York. He also understood that various other alterations were in contemplation, such as that Manchester was to have an assize of its own, and that Liverpool was to be transferred from the northern to some Welsh circuit. Seeing that at present the grand juries and the members of the bar belonging to the different circuits were collected together in the various assize towns, he hoped the Home Secretary would be able to give the House some authentic information as to the conclusions at which the Commission had arrived.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that not being himself a Member of the Commission to which his hon. and learned Friend had referred, he had communicated with one of the Members of it, and had been informed by him that the Commissioners were now considering their Report, and that they hoped to be able to present that Report at a very early period. He had no doubt that when that Report was presented he should receive Her Majesty's commands to lay it before Parliament, and he thought under those circumstances he was not at present justified in saying more on the subject.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, as he was a Member of the Commission in question, he might be permitted to state that his hon. and learned Friend (Mr. Warren) had evidently received very erroneous information in reference to what was likely to be the nature of the Report of the Commission. The Commission had agreed to the substance of the Report, but it was not yet drawn up, and he was sure the House would not think it necessary or desirable on his part to enter into any details on the subject.