§ Dr. David Owenasked the Attorney-General whether he will consider amending the law relating to applications for transferring cases from particular courts so as to allow consideration of whether or not the trial could be hastened as well as the convenience of counsel, witnesses and other matters.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Rules of the Supreme Court already give the court discretion to transfer cases in appropriate circumstances, which will include amongst others the factors mentioned in the hon. Member's Question.
§ Dr. David Owenasked the Attorney-General if he will list the applications that have been made to the Chancery Division over the last two years to transfer cases to the provincial courts, and those that have been accepted.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI regret that the precise information which the hon. Member seeks is not available. However, since the Courts Act 1971 came into force on 1st January 1972, trial outside London in cases in the Chancery Division has been ordered on approximately 25 occasions.