HC Deb 28 December 1893 vol 20 cc332-3
MR. PAUL (Edinburgh, S.)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate how far the new Rules of Procedure, issued by the Judges of the High Court of Justice in England, increase or affect the liability of Scotsmen domiciled in their own country to be made parties to proceedings in the English Courts?

* THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J.B. Balfour,&c.) Clackmannan,

I think that these Rules would to some extent increase the liability of domiciled Scotsmen to be made parties to proceedings in the English Courts, though I cannot at present say the precise extent to which this would, or might be, the case, as I do not feel sure as to the exact meaning and I effect of some of the English technical terms used in the Rules. I shall, however, obtain information as to this.

MR. PAUL

When will Parliament have an opportunity of expressing any opinion on these Rules?

* MR. J. B. BALFOUR

They have to lie on the Table 40 days during which the House shall have sat, and they may be annulled if an address praying for this is presented to Her Majesty during that time. The Rules were laid on the 7th December, so that they would not be liable to be annulled after about the middle of January.

MR. PAUL

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury why the new Rules of Procedure, framed by the Judges of the High Court of Justice, and presented to Parliament on 7th December, have not been distributed or issued; and whether, considering that some of these Rules are believed seriously to affect the interests of the commercial classes in Scotland, he will arrange that the Vote Office shall at once be supplied with copies available for Members of this House?

* THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

The "Rides of the Supreme Court, November, 1893," were laid on the Table (by Act), but no order was given for printing. I am informed that it is not the usual practice to print such Rules for distribution to Parliament; but the November Rules have been published, and are on sale as a, Stationary Office publication.

MR. PAUL

May I ask whether, in view of the very great interest and importance of these Rules, the right hon. Gentleman will procure a larger number of copies for the use of hon. Members?

* SIR J. T. HIBBERT

I shall be very glad to do so.

MR. W. AMBROSE (Middlesex, Harrow)

How are hon. Members to know what is going to be the law with their assent unless the Rules are properly published and brought before them?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

The Treasury are not, in fact, answerable for the printing or distribution of those Rules. I have tried to find out what Department is answerable, but I have been unable to do so. If there is any general desire on the part of the House that the Rides should be printed as a Parliamentary Paper I shall be very glad to consider what can be done.

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

May I ask whether, as the Rules have been laid on the Table, they will not be printed in the usual way?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

No order was given for printing them