Mr. PALMERasked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to the fact that most County Court Judges during the long vacation will not be available in August and September, any steps can be taken to establish vacation Courts in order to consider applications under Section 2 (1) of the Prevention of Evictions Act, 1924, in order to protect poor tenants?
The ATTORNEY - GENERALThe County Courts have no long vacation. A Judge is bound to hold each of the Courts on his circuit at least once in every month, with the exception of one month, which is usually either August or September, but cannot be both. This enables the Judge to have a necessary holiday, but the existing machinery is sufficient to protect the rights of tenants while the Judge is not sitting. Any Judge is capable of acting for any other Judge in any place, and enough Judges will be available in August and September to deal with urgent applications with which the Registrar cannot deal. It is, therefore, not necessary to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. I may add that Registrars have certain powers of suspending, Orders and staying execution during the Judge's absence, and my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor is considering whether these powers are sufficient, or whether they ought to be extended.