§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether he could now state any particulars of the scheme for the sittings of the Judges of the High Court of Judicature, especially with reference to Lancashire?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)I am now in a position to answer the Question of the hon. Member, and to state the arrangements which have now been made for the purpose of effecting a saving of judicial time. We found that there was a very strong feeling both in the country and in the House against depriving any county of Assizes, and consequently we do not propose to introduce any legislation for that purpose. The Assizes will, therefore, continue in every county and also for every town as heretofore, with the exception of Kingston-on-Thames, the business of which will be transferred to Guildford and Croydon, the remaining Assize towns. The effect of this will be to provide continuous sittings in London, and to secure the better administration of justice in the counties. There are seven Circuits in England and two in Wales, and upon those Circuits there are 54 different towns at which Assizes are held. At all those towns in England two Judges have always attended, however little work there may have been to do. Under the new arrangement, to all of those towns one Judge only will be sent instead of two, with the exception of 13 towns. To those remaining 13—namely, Durham, York, Leeds, Exeter, Bristol, Winchester, Stafford, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, Warwick, Chester, and Swansea —two Judges will be sent. In cases where two Judges may be required in the other towns, to meet that demand an additional Judge will be sent from London. The result of this will be that in the early part of the Circuit nine Judges will be sent, and in the latter part 10, and those Judges will be taken exclusively from the Queen's Bench Division. The Courts of Appeal will thus be able to hold their sittings continuously, as also will the Chancery, Divorce, and Admiralty Courts. Special provision has been made for the county of Lancaster. There will be Assizes held at Manchester and Liverpool under exceptional circumstances, the Circuits commencing on the 15th of February, the 15th of June, the 25th of October, and also a fourth Circuit for dealing with criminal cases. Provision has been made for the sitting of the Judge until his list is disposed of, so that there shall be no remanets. Provision has also been made for a Judge—I presume he 416 will be an Equity Judge—attending at Manchester and Liverpool for the purpose of trying equity cases.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSWill the Equity Judge form part of the Lancashire Court?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)No; the Judge will be a Judge of the High Court. With regard to the question of local centres, great difficulty has been experienced; but arrangements have been made for Assizes to be held at Birmingham twice a year, which will be considered as partly on the Oxford and partly on the Midland Circuit. I believe the new arrangement will accomplish what was desired, and, at the same time, tend in the direction of economy.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSI presume we are to understand that two Judges will go to Manchester and Liverpool. I should like also to inquire whether any further arrangement has been made for the trial of Admiralty cases in the county of Lancaster?
MR. STAVELEY HILLAt what time, in relation to that held at Stafford and Warwick, is it proposed to hold the Birmingham Assize?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)In reply to the right hon. Gentleman I may say that it is intended to send two Judges to Manchester and Liverpool. I will make inquiries with regard to the Admiralty cases in Lancashire. In answer to my hon. and learned Friend, who, I presume, asks his Question in the interest of the Oxford Circuit, I may say that it is proposed that Birmingham shall be taken as the last town after all the towns on the Oxford Circuit and all the towns on the Midland Circuit. It will be considered a town belonging to both Circuits.
§ MR. TOMLINSONasked whether it was proposed that the new sittings should go on concurrently with the Chancery jurisdiction of the Palatine Courts?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)I know of no intention to deal with the jurisdiction of the Palatine Courts. As I have already said, this scheme is only one of a tentative character.
§ In reply to Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,
417§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)stated that the time allotted to Newcastle would be eight days.
§ In reply to Mr. BARRAN,
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said: Leeds will remain as it is at present. There is no additional jurisdiction given in respect to that town.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSMy hon. and learned Friend will, I hope, lay a copy of the Order in Council upon the Table.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)It will be laid on the Table as soon as possible.
§ MR. HICKSinquired whether any rearrangements would be made with regard to the spring and autumn Circuits in view of a better distribution of judicial labour in the different counties?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)I may remind the hon. Member that at the spring and autumn Assizes criminal cases alone are taken.
§ In reply to Mr. WARTON,
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said, it was not intended that in future there should be a Commission day. The necessary formalities might occupy about an hour on the first day.