§ SIR THOMAS DEWAR (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the congestion of business in the London Law Courts, and will he consider the practicability of rearranging the circuits with a view to the retention of the services of one or two additional Judges in London.
(Answered by Sir Robert Finlay.) I have ascertained that there is no exceptional congestion of business in the Royal Courts of Justice. The general condition of business is much better than it has been for some time past, though there are a larger number of common juries waiting for hearing than usual, which has been occasioned by the illness and temporary absence of some of the Judges. No rearrangement of the circuits would enable two or even one additional Judge to be available for sittings in London for any substantial time unless arrangements were made either to diminish the number of circuits or to group the counties on alternate circuits. Many serious objections have been raised to both these proposals, which have been under constant consideration during the last ten years. It is right to point out that the present number of Judges in the King's Bench Division leaves no margin or reserve whatever for illness or temporary absence.