§ 41. Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to meet the representatives of the magistrates in Bolton to discuss his criteria for appointing magistrates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI visited Bolton on 30 March when I met members of the Bolton Forum. I last had discussions with Bolton magistrates during November last year. I hope to visit Bolton again next year.
§ Mr. ThurnhamI hope that my right hon. Friend will soon find an opportunity to visit Bolton again. Will he find 576 an opportunity to turn his courts charter into a real charter against crime and incorporate as many as possible of the Home Secretary's 27 points against crime in that charter?
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Conservative party and the country as a whole are strongly behind my right hon. and learned Friend's proposals. The courts charter has less ambitious but important objectives—to diminish delays in the courts, make the courts more accessible and to help witnesses and others who must attend court understand the processes of the law. The courts are now committed to those valuable objectives.
§ Madam SpeakerSince the House reassembled following the summer recess, far too many Members who put questions on the Order Paper have absented themselves without withdrawing their question or giving me so much as an apology. I am sure that the House shares my view that good manners cost absolutely nothing and standards will have to improve.