§ 43. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to take steps by legislation or otherwise to effect the removal of the assize from the city of Exeter?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)As a result of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Despatch of Business at Common Law, the Lord Chancellor has appointed a Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Finlay,
to review the present distribution of assize facilities and report whether, due regard being paid to t he recommendation of the Peel Commission that the county should be retained as the judicial unit, any further town should lie added to those which are already visited, or any town at present visited should be omitted.I am unwilling to make any statement which could in any way prejudge the matters on which the Committee are to report, but I am unaware at the moment of any proposal that Exeter should cease to be an assize town.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCan changes take place without legislation?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALIt depends on the extent of the changes. There are powers given to the Lord Chancellor, but I should like notice if my right hon. Friend has any particular changes in mind.