§ 60. Mr. MILLSasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the volume of magisterial work in Bexley, Crayford, Belvedere, Abbey Wood, Erith, Slades Green, Dartford, Swanscombe, and Welling is beyond the capacity of the existing panel, he will recommend the Lord Chancellor to appoint additional magistrates?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir James Melville)The Lord Chancellor is taking active steps to inquire into the question of the need for the appointment of additional magistrates in these areas.
§ Mr. MILLSIs the hon. and learned Member aware that this question has been asked over a period of nine months and that there are 70,000 people without any effective justices of the peace? Will he, therefore, cause an inquiry to be held into the present condition of the magistracy in the Dartford Division?