§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the police 1240 magistrate for Marylebone frequently has 60 summonses to his Court in an afternoon; whether, on the average of cases heard during the time he sits, he can give more than three minutes to each case; whether these hours are from 3 to 5 p.m.; whether some persons have to come three miles from their homes to attend the Court; if he is aware that there is a widespread demand in St. Pancras for a separate Court; and, if, taking all the circumstances into consideration, he is prepared to give this borough, having a population of about 250,000, a Police Court for the transaction of its business?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the magistrate of the Marylebone Court that it is a very unusual occurrence to have 60 summonses in a day. The hours for hearing summonses are from 2 to 5. The most distant part of the district in St. Pancras is about three miles from the Court. I have no knowledge of any widespread demand for a separate Court in St. Pancras. The Court is a hard-worked one; but the magistrates tell me that they have had no difficulty in disposing of the business. I am not prepared to advise the establishment of a separate Police Court for St. Pancras.