HC Deb 27 February 1947 vol 433 c2249
1. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Attorney-General if he will now state when juries will be restored for the trial of civil actions.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Soskiee)

The hon. and learned Member will appreciate that this matter cannot be dealt with in isolation. The Order in Council needed to restore the right to a jury must be one which terminates the whole of the Administration of Justice (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939. The termination of the Act as a whole has been the subject of an inter-departmental inquiry, and the Order in Council will, I hope, be made in time to effect the restoration of the pre-war right to a jury in a civil action not later than 1st June, though it may not be possible until somewhat later to increase the number of jurymen to twelve.

Mr. Hughes

In view of the shortage of manpower, will the hon. and learned Gentleman arrange for the immediate restoration of trial by jury in civil actions by juries of seven or five jurors? Can he say what progress has been made in the compilation of the jury list?

The Solicitor-General

The new jurors' list came into effect on 1st January this year. As I have already stated, it is hoped that the complement of seven jurymen will be possible not later than 1st June.