§ 49. Sir C. HENRYasked the Prime Minister if he will state whether it is the intention, either by legislation or otherwise, to deal with the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Judicial Delay, of which the late Lord St. Aldwyn was chairman, which reported previous to the War?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Gordon Hewart)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Effect has been given to some of the most important recommendations of Lord St. Aldwyn's Commission. Others can be carried into effect only by the action of the judges themselves, and I have no doubt that they have, so far as is practicable, given careful consideration to the recommendations. Others have become obsolete since the Commission reported; others, again, are highly controversial. I may say that there is now no delay in the King's Bench Division. It is, in my opinion, desirable that the state of affairs which has arisen from the War should resume a normal course before further legislation upon the subjects dealt with by the Commission is introduced.
§ Sir C. HENRYCould my right hon. Friend state or circulate these recommendations that have become effective?
§ Sir G. HEWARTI do not know. I will inquire. As my hon. Friend is aware, there were some fifty or sixty recommendations.