§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the attention of Members of the House continues to be drawn from time to time to the hard manner in which the present jury system bears on small tradesmen who have no assistants and on wage-earners who suffer loss of earnings when called upon to attend as jurymen; and whether he has been able to give further consideration to the question of dealing with this recognised hardship, and proposes to take any steps to obtain an inquiry into the whole system as a preliminary to legislation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am well aware of the defects of the present system of selecting jurors, and, as I informed the House on the 27th April last, I am of opinion that some inquiry into the subject is desirable. I cannot, however, make any further statement at present.