§ 2. Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to make a statement on the future organisation of magistrates' courts.
§ Mr. CocksI thank the Home Secretary for that very comprehensive reply but I would point out that he gave an undertaking to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. John Fraser) that this statement would be made before the end of the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill and I understand that this matter will begin to be discussed next Thursday. Can we have an indication that the Committee will not waste its time by not having this information before the end of the Committee stage?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe statement will be made not later than the appropriate part of the Committee stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. John FraserWhen the Home Secretary makes the statement will he also deal with the areas of the probation service and say whether the new areas are to be coterminous with the new local authority areas?
§ Mr. MaudlingI will bring that to the notice of my hon. Friend who is in charge of the Committee proceedings.