§ MR. GODFREY BARING (Isle of Wight)To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the repeated expressions of opinion by the Lord Chief Justice and other Judges of the High Court that, in order to secure the full efficiency of the Court of Criminal Appeal, the Court should possess the power to order a new trial in certain eases; and whether he will consider the desirability of promoting legislation during the next session of Parliament to confer such power upon the Court of Criminal Appeal
2069 (Answered by Sir William Robson.) The question as to whether or not the Court of Criminal Appeal should have power to order a new trial is, no doubt, one which gives rise to great differences of opinion among Judges. It was fully discussed in the debates preceding the passing of the Act, and I do not think it desirable to ask Parliament to reverse the decision at which it then arrived on such experience as the working of the Act has afforded up to the present time.