§ 45. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Prime Minister the number of judges, including Lords of Appeal, who are at present serving on committees of 843 inquiry appointed by the Government or Royal Commissions; and the average number of hours per week that they are absent from their judicial duties by reason of such inquiries?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)There are two judges, including Lords of Appeal, now engaged on Royal Commissions or Committees of Inquiry: Lord Parker, who is presiding over the Committee of experts in the Marconi Inquiry; Mr. Justice Darling, who is serving on the Judicial Commission. Neither of them has been absent from his judicial duties by reason of such inquiries.
§ Mr. HALLWhat is the use of appointing one additional judge to wipe out arrears of judicial business when you are taking two judges away from their judicial duties?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Gentleman did not listen to me. If he had done me the courtesy to do so, he would have known that I said that neither of them had been withdrawn for one moment from his judicial duties.