§ MR. H. C. RICHARDSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) if any further steps can be taken to comply with the request of the London School Board for the expeditious hearing of summonses away from the existing police courts, and if he can see his way to further assistance being given by the justices of the peace; and (2) if such or similar requests have reached him from Macclesfield and other provincial boards?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolAs regards the first paragraph of the Question, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave last, month to the hon. Member for West Nottingham. The present arrangement, which I mentioned then, continues, I believe, to work well. As regards the second paragraph, complaints have reached me from Macclesfield and, perhaps, a dozen other places, that it is the practice at Petty Sessional Courts to hear School Board cases last in the order of business, although the defendants may have been notified to appear at the opening of the Court, and that, in consequence, they are often unnecessarily associated with persons charged with criminal offences. To remedy this, if possible, I have issued a circular letter to the magistrates of these places and other large towns, suggesting that arrangements should be made at their courts similar to those in force in the metropolis.