§ 16. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the waste of time involved in demanding the heads of important business concerns to serve on special juries; and whether he will consider making some change in the method of selection of such juries which 1312 would avoid the dislocation following upon the absence of important executives from their places of business?
§ Sir J. GILMOURService as a special juror is a public duty which must on occasion inconvenience individuals. Any person who is summoned may apply for excusal to the Summoning Officer or to the Court, but such excusals must necessarily be restricted to cases where real urgency is shown. To regard as a sufficient reason for excusal the claims of business as such would deprive the Courts of valuable special jurors.
§ Mr. ROBINSONDoes not my right hon. Friend think that the time has come for a reform of procedure which involves so much time being spent waiting about the Law Courts?