HC Deb 29 November 1932 vol 272 cc637-9
29. Mr. McKEAG

asked the Attorney-General if he can give any particulars as to the cost to the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the delay and inconvenience occasioned to all concerned, by reason of only one judge being sent to conduct the assizes at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and at Durham; whether he is aware that an urgent request had to be made for a commissioner of assize to assist; and whether, in view of the volume of work usually required to be done, the practice of sending two judges to these assizes will be restored?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)

I have no information as to the cost occasioned to the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by reason of only one judge being available for the trial of cases at that city for the Autumn Assize. I am aware that owing to an unusually heavy list of cases it was necessary to make urgent representations for the appointment of a commissioner, and I understand that a commissioner was appointed as soon as the Lord Chancellor was satisfied as to the necessity for doing so. In reply to the last part of the question, the arrangements relating to circuits are made in accordance with the scheme set out in the Schedule to the Order in Council of the 14th May, 1912. This scheme provides for the attendance of one judge only at Newcastle and Durham for the Autumn Assize. Two judges attend to deal with cases at Newcastle and Durham during the Summer and Winter Assizes, but if any permanent addition was to be made for the Autumn Assize it would undoubtedly result in depleting the number of judges available for the trial of cases in London.

Mr. McKEAG

Is it not a fact that on this occasion, the most casual scrutiny of the causes, both at Newcastle-on-Tyne and Durham, would have revealed the necessity of sending two judges?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I have not studied the cause list, and I cannot answer that question.

Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman give the House an assurance that arrangements will be made in future to prevent a recurrence of this very undesirable state of things?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I cannot give an assurance in that broad and unqualified way. I cannot control the number of cases to be tried, nor can I control the number of judges available to try them.

Mr. TURTON

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at the next assize town, which is Leeds, there was a calendar of 156 prisoners and 44 civil cases and that only one of His Majesty's judges was sent and one commissioner; and would he recommend to the Lord Chancellor that two judges should be sent on the North-Eastern Circuit?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I will certainly call the Lord Chancellor's atten- tion to the facts to which the hon. Member has referred, although those facts are not within my personal knowledge at the present moment.

Mr. LINDSAY

In view of the fact that congestion exists, not only on the North-Eastern circuit but on other circuits, does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that the time has come to ask this House for another King's Bench judge?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I shall be glad to take note of the opinion of the House on that question.