HC Deb 07 March 1955 vol 538 cc30-1
48. Mr. Hayman

asked the Attorney-General whether he will send a circular to all under-sheriffs drawing their attention to the desirability of sending a postal notification of the holding of an assize to the editors of all provincial and local newspapers circulating in the areaof the assize, in addition to the advertisement now usually appearing in a single newspaper.

The Attorney-General (Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller)

No, Sir. I consider that the present arrangements for advertising the dates of assizes are adequate to ensure that notice of them is effectively brought to the attention of all concerned.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Attorney-General bear in mind that in a county like Cornwall, which is 80 miles across, one advertisement in a Plymouth newspaper is not adequate to cover the whole of the county and any part of Devon that might be involved? Is he aware that the suggestion made in the Question would involve an office boy in only a few minutes' time, and the State in a few stamps? Will he look at the proposal again in order to see that there is adequate publicity in all cases?

The Attorney-General

The hon. Gentleman wrote to me about this one case. There has been no other complaint about these advertisements of assizes. In those circumstances, although the matter has been looked at in the light of the hon. Gentleman's correspondence, it does not seem necessary to go to the expense and trouble of notifying every local paper.