HC Deb 14 December 1950 vol 482 cc1340-1
37. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the congestion of cases in nearby and other Metropolitan magistrates' courts, he will arrange for the court at Rochester Row, Westminster, to be re-opened.

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. This court is not usable because it was badly damaged during the war. As soon as the capital investment programme permits, it is proposed, in accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee which reported in 1937, to begin the building of larger court houses in order to relieve the congestion at some of the courts, but I am afraid that this is not at present possible.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is my right hon. Friend prepared to consider a provisional arrangement by which these courts can be rebuilt? Quite a number of cases have to be adjourned three or four times, causing grave inconvenience to litigants and witnesses.

Mr. Ede

I am quite willing to consider any arrangement, but what I cannot do is to re-open this court. The building is unsuitable.