MR. PHILIPPS (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a statement made by Judge Chalmers, that the perjury committed by witnesses in the Birmingham County Court exceeds anything he ever experienced in India; and whether he can take steps to deal with the matter, either by recommending the institution of criminal proceedings or by any other methods?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.I have communicated with the learned Judge, and he confirms the statement referred to in the first paragraph of my hon. Friend's question. The present machinery for the conviction and punishment of perjury is cumbrous and expensive, and I am con- 1164 sidering whether it may not be practicable to devise some simpler, and therefore more effective, check against what appears to be a growing evil.
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir; he does not.