§ 39. Mr. ISAAC FOOTasked the Attorney-General whether, in the new arrangements for county court premises at Shaftesbury, it is intended to establish the new county court office on the first floor of licensed premises; and, if so, whether there is any precedent for such conditions?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)New county court offices are urgently required at Shaftesbury and the only suitable premises the Office of Works have been able to find are two rooms over off-licence premises. The entrance from the street is 8 feet wide and the stairs leading to 177 the upstairs rooms have a separate door. The Office of Works are hiring the rooms on a short tenancy only until other suitable accommodation becomes available.
§ Mr. FOOTIn the further consideration of this matter, will the Solicitor-General have regard to the fact that under the existing law it is impossible to hold ordinary sessions or a coroner's inquest on licensed premises, and why should not that apply also to county court offices?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERALAs I have said, these rooms have been hired on a short tenancy and are the only ones available at the moment.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSWho established off-licences? Was it Mr. Gladstone?