HC Deb 24 May 1909 vol 5 cc833-4
Lord ROBERT CECIL

asked the Attorney-General on how many days the Lord Chief Justice has during this term sat in the Court of Appeal, in the Court of Criminal Appeal, and in the King's Bench Division respectively; and who has taken the place of the Lord Chief Justice in the King's Bench Division while he was sitting in the Courts of Appeal and Criminal Appeal?

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Samuel Evans) (for the Attorney-General)

During the Easter Sittings the Lord Chief Justice of England has sat in the Court of Appeal on 17 days and in the Court of Criminal Appeal on five clays. His Lordship has not sat at all in the King's Bench Division, and no other judge has taken his place in that division while he has been sitting in the other Courts.

Lord R. CECIL

Am I to understand that the effect of that will be to reduce the staff by the Lord Chief Justice during the whole of this term?

Sir SAMUEL EVANS

Yes; that is so.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

asked on how many days the Court of Criminal Appeal has sat during this term; and of how many judges it was composed on each occasion?

Sir SAMUEL EVANS

The Court of Criminal Appeal has sat on sixteen days—up to and including May 21st—during the present term. The court was composed of three judges on eleven occasions, and of five judges on five occasions.

Lord R. CECIL

Am I right in saying that the judges who composed the Court of Criminal Appeal have been absent from their civil work during a period of 50 judicial days up to the beginning of last week, and I think, now, 64 judicial days up to the present time?

Sir SAMUEL EVANS

The arithmetic of the Noble Lord is right. The facts are as stated in the answer to the question.

Mr. J. F. RAWLINSON

Having regard to the pledges given by the Government during the course of the Court of Criminal Appeal Bill, do the Government propose to remedy the prevailing state of affairs by the appointment of fresh judges?

Sir SAMUEL EVANS

That will be referred to in a subsequent answer.