MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the judgment delivered by the Lord Chief Justice of England on Saturday last, in the case of the Queen v. Charles Rose, in which his Lordship referred to the question of magistrates not granting bail; and whether he will take steps to bring his Lordship's remarks before the benches of magistrates of this country?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTYes, Sir, I have read the judgment to which the hon. Member refers, and most fully agree with the views expressed by the Lord Chief Justice, as regards the principles which should determine the question of allowing bail. They are, in fact, the views to which the Home Office have often given expression. In a circular issued not very long ago to Justices, they were urged, in deciding questions concerning bail, to keep in view the importance of not imposing any imprisonment on an untried prisoner, beyond what is absolutely necessary to secure his attendance at the trial. Everything that can be done by the Home Office to impress these views on magistrates, has, as I think the hon. Member will see, already been done.