HC Deb 21 December 1933 vol 284 cc1479-81W
Sir A. SINCLAIR

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that a gentleman was recently summoned to attend as a juror at a circuit court in Inverness from a village about 110 miles distant; that he had to spend three days away from business, two nights from home, and to travel over 200 miles without repayment of any of his expenses, with it in November, 1933, with the corresponding numbers in November, 1932; and the numbers in each category of unemployed on both dates?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The available information as to the numbers of insured persons relates to July of each year. The following table gives the information desired so far as it is available:

and that his service as a juror was not in fact required; and whether he will give an assurance that personal hardship occasioned by attending a circuit court at Inverness from such distant counties as Caithness and Sutherland will in future be taken into account in considering a claim for exemption from such service?

The LORD ADVOCATE

I am aware that a juror was recently cited from a village about 110 miles distant to attend a circuit court at Inverness; that no payment of expenses is allowed to jurors in criminal cases; and that this juror was not empanelled to serve on the jury. I have been informed that the juror's attendance in Inverness involved his absence from home for the period mentioned in the question. The summoning and exemption from service of jurors is not within the province of the Lord Advocate. The proportion of jurors from the counties of Caithness and Sutherland to be summoned to a sitting of the High Court at Inverness is regulated by Statute and Act of Adjournal. A juror cited to attend may apply for exemption from service for medical, financial, domestic or other reasons. I am informed that exemption may be granted under the direction of the judge who is to preside at the circuit on grounds of hardship, in considering which the distance of the applicant's home from Inverness and the expense and inconvenience thereby occasioned are taken into account.