HC Deb 02 July 1923 vol 166 cc59-60W
Sir A. HOLBROOK

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that last week a local tradesman applied to the Grimsby County Court Office for the necessary form that an application might be made for a judgment summons, and the officials informed him that the stock of these forms was exhausted and that they were not now allowed to obtain these from their local printers, but an order to the Stationery Office had been sent some time ago; and, in view of the fact that, owing to the inability to obtain the forms, the case cannot come up until September, can steps be taken to allow the County Court officials throughout the country to order their forms as hitherto from private firms?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

It is the fact that on the 25th July the supply of printed forms of præcipe for judgment had run short at the Grimsby Court. This was clue, I am informed, not to the alteration in the method of supplying forms, but to an unexpected increase in the work of the Court. The incident caused no delay. It would have been possible, had any necessity existed, to supply a typewritten form, but the return day for July was already overcrowded. There are no August sittings, and September was the earliest possible date for dealing with the matter. The present system of supplying printed forms for use in County Courts throughout the country, which provides for the issue of stocks at short notice, works satisfactorily and effects very considerable economy, and I see no reason for making the change suggested in the question.