§ Mr. BUTCHERasked the Attorney-General whether he has any official information to show that a system of packing juries prevails in the English Law Courts; and, if such official information, exists, whether he will lay the Papers relating thereto upon the Table of the House?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSI have no official information on the subject, but I am aware that questions have been raised with regard to the constitution and selection of juries, and that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is about to appoint a 1020 Departmental Committee to inquire into the working of the present jury system in the English Law Courts.
§ Mr. BUTCHERHas the right hon. Gentleman any information, which was asked for in the question, as to the packing of juries?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSI have already answered that. I said I have no official information on the subject.
§ Mr. BUTCHERHas the right hon. Gentleman any unofficial information?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSThe question asked me was whether I had any official information. I answered that I had none. With regard to the question of the packing of juries, it would depend on what the hon. and learned Member means. Packing in the ordinary sense I have certainly not heard of, but questions with regard to the selection of juries have arisen, as the hon. and learned Member must be aware.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred to in his recent speech at Bath as to the packing of juries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not for the Attorney-General to explain the speeches of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at least one judge of the King's Bench Division is in the habit of instructing the associate of his court never to call any licensed victualler on his juries?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSNo, I am not aware of that.