§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Attorney-General what number of cases, in the most recent year available, were handled by registrars of the High Court of Justice and county courts in Gwynedd, Clwyd and Cheshire, respectively; and how many full-time registrars there are in each of these three counties.
§ The Solicitor GeneralThe number of cases is not immediately available but my noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. There is one full-time registrar in Gwynedd and Clwyd and there are two in Cheshire. A fourth registrar divides his time between Cheshire and Clwyd.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Attorney-General if he will give an assurance that there will continue to be a county court judge full-time to hear cases in Gwynedd and Clwyd on the Wales and Chester circuit.
§ The Solicitor GeneralYes, subject to the judge being available to sit in the Crown court, so far as his commitments in the county courts allow.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Attorney-General what proposals he has to give the High Court of Justice in Wales a full Chancery jurisdiction so that litigants are not forced to the expense of having their cases prepared for trial and heard in Liverpool and Manchester.
§ The Solicitor GeneralIn present circumstances the likely volume of Chancery work would not appear to justify an extension of jurisdiction, but the matter is kept under review by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.