HC Deb 04 May 1900 vol 82 cc766-7
MR. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware of the fact that the General Council of the Bar and the Incorporated Law Society have repeatedly recommended the appointment of additional judges of the Queen's Bench Division of the Supreme Court; that a joint Committee of those two associations representing the Bar and Solicitors of England was recently appointed to consider the arrears of legal business in that Division of the Supreme Court, and that after careful consideration of the report of that joint Committee a resolution was passed by the General Council of the Bar, and communicated to the Lord Chancellor, declaring that an addition to the judicial strength of the Queen's Bench Division was an imperative necessity in the interests of suitors and of the public; and whether, having regard to the constant arrears of legal business in that division of the Supreme Court, and to the repeated recommendations of the associations named, Her Majesty's Government mean to take any steps to remedy the grievances mentioned.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am advised that the Lord Chancellor is prepared to consider any particulars that may be adduced as to the condition of business in the Queen's Bench Division. My information, however, does not support the statement in the question that there are constant arrears.