HC Deb 14 June 1939 vol 348 cc1333-4W
Mr. Ede

asked the Attorney-General how many courts of quarter sessions entitled to make application to the Lord Chancellor for the recognition of a legally qualified chairman have done so to the latest convenient date; and how many have not done so?

The Attorney-General

Forty-eight courts of county quarter sessions have up to 9th June acquired the extended jurisdiction provided under the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1938, by reason of the presence of a legally qualified chairman and/or deputy-chairman. To 27 of these courts chairmen and/or deputy-chairmen have been appointed under Section I (1) of the Act. In the remainder the chairman and/or deputy-chairman is already a legally qualified person under the Act without appointment. In 14 courts of quarter sessions there is, at present, no legally qualified chairman and/or deputy-chairman under the Act. In some of these cases it is understood that the appointment is under consideration locally.