§ LORD EDWARD MANNERS (Leicestershire, Milton)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether an Order in Council is under the immediate consideration of the Lord Chancellor giving effect to a Resolution of the Judges, whereby the town of Leicester and the county of Leicestershire are to be deprived of a civil assize and sent either to Derby or Nottingham; and, if so, by what right this is to be done without consulting the town or county in any way?
§ MR. E. H. HULSE (Salisbury)I beg to ask the Attorney General if the Lord Chancellor contemplates issuing an Order in Council for the abolition of civil business at all future assizes in the county of Wilts and other counties; and if he can state what are the exact terms of such proposed Order; and to request that such Order may not be promulgated until the local authorities and the County Councils have had an opportunity of expressing their protests against this attempt to deprive them of their historic rights?
§ MR. A. F. GODSON (Kidderminster)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether it has been decided that in future civil assizes will be hold only once a year at Worcester; and, if so, why this course has been proposed, thus depriving that county and city of their ancient privileges without any consultation with the local authorities?
§ MR. A. STRAUSS (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the Attorney General if it is proposed that in future the Cornish assizes, or some of them, shall be held at Exeter, instead of Bodmin as heretofore; and if he will take immediate steps to prevent that proposal from being carried out, as the great distance from many parts of Cornwall to Exeter would entail great inconvenience to litigants and witnesses?
§ MR. W. W. CARLILE (Bucks, N.)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether the Lord Chancellor purposes, by an Order in Council, to deprive Buckinghamshire of a civil assize; and, if so, on what grounds such a proposal is made, and whether the interests of the county have been consulted?
§ MR. C. G. PYM (Bedford)I beg to ask the Attorney General if the Lord Chancellor contemplates issuing an Order in Council for the abolition of civil business at future assizes in the county of Bedford, and whether the promulgation of such Order could be post-posed until the county and borough of Bedford have had an opportunity of expressing their views on this proposal to deprive them of their ancient rights?
§ MR. RADCLIFFE COOKE (Hereford)asked whether a similar resolution was in contemplation for the city of Hereford, and whether the inhabitants would not he consulted before the change was made?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of WightIn reply to these questions, I am directed by the Lord Chancellor to say that, so far as he is concerned, no alteration in the assize arrangements will be made without opportunity being given to those who are interested in the matter being heard; but it is not desirable at the present stage to enter upon a discussion of matters which are the subject of communications between the Lord Chancellor and Her Majesty's Judges.