§ Sir CHARLES HENRYasked the Prime Minister if consultative committees, recommended in the Report of the Royal 1904 Commission on Justices of the Peace, have been appointed; and, if so, will he state the counties where such committees are at present engaged in co-operating with lords lieutenant?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCommittees have been appointed in some and will be appointed in the other counties, as necessity arises for the selection of new Justices. There are ninety-five counties or liberties in Great Britain (exclusive of Lancashire) and 216 cities and boroughs, with separate commissions of the peace, and it is not practicable to classify the counties and state at present what stage the work of Committees already in existence has reached. If my hon. Friend desires the information as regards any particular county, I will ask the Lord Chancellor for it and furnish it to him. I may add that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has appointed an Advisory Committee, who are at present engaged for the County Palatine in co-operating with the Lord Lieutenant. He is considering the appointment of other advisory committees in connection with the boroughs.