§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the estimates for the work to be executed in the conversion of the King's Gallery in the palace of Westminster, for the trial of Earl Russell, have been presented to him, or revised or checked by him; and whether the House of Commons will be asked to vote for this expenditure on a supplemental Estimate.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe work to be carried out in the Royal Gallery in connection with Lord Russell's trial has been revised and checked by me. It is not intended to introduce a supplemental Estimate, but the work will be paid for under subheads A and F of the Vote for the Houses of Parliament buildings.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Attorney General a question of which I have sent him private notice—namely, whether it is a fact that the courts of the King's Bench Division of the High Court will not sit on Thursday; that the courts of Sir Francis Jeune, Mr. Justice Cozens-Hardy, and Mr. Justice Farwell will also be closed; and, if so, what is the reason for this dislocation of public business and inconvenience to suitors and witnesses.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYIt is part of the duty of the judges to attend in the House of Lords when required. Of course it is impossible for them to be at the House of Lords and in their own courts at the same time.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will give me an opportunity, before the Indian Budget, of discussing the expenses of Earl Russell's trial.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I know nothing about that, Sir.