Mr. ASTORasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the hardship caused to persons charged with minor offences who are summoned to appear before magistrates courts on certain bank holidays; and whether he can see his way to make some alteration in the position?
§ Sir J. SIMONI understand that it is the practice in London to limit the number of summonses returnable on the statutory bank holidays, and that an endeavour would always be made to meet the wishes of a defendant who represented that it would be inconvenient for him to attend on one of those days. It must be borne in mind that in some cases attendance on a bank holiday involves 575W less hardship than on a working day when it may result in loss of work and earnings.