§ 76. Mr. MARSHALLasked the Attorney-General whether he will recommend inquiry into the inconvenience and expense to litigants from the City of Sheffield who are having to visit the present assizes at Leeds, and particularly the cases of Rex v. George Henry Cook arid Rex v. Finlay which were in the list on five different days without being reached, although cases from Leeds and the vicinity have taken precedence of them?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)The Lord Chancellor has appointed a committee, of which Mr. Justice Finlay is Chairman, to review the present distribution of Assize facilities, and report whether, due regard being paid to the recommendation of the Peel Commission that the county should be retained as the judicial unit, any further town should be added to those which are already visited, or any town at present visited should be omitted. I understand that a petition from the City Council of Sheffield for the establishment of Sheffield as an Assize town has been laid before, and will receive the consideration of, that 2779 committee. In answer to the second part of the question I have had inquiries made, but am not at present in a position to explain the delay in these cases. I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman as soon as my inquiries are concluded.