HC Deb 12 July 1939 vol 349 cc2263-4W
Sir A. Wilson

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that whereas the average interval between date of entering an appeal and of its disposal in the Court of Appeal in workmen's compensation cases averaged less than three months in 1938 and 1939 in 53 and 15 cases, respectively, the corresponding period in the case of appeals to the House of Lords was about 8½ months in six cases between January 1937 and May 1939, apart from and in addition to some necessary delay in the presentation of appeals; and whether he will consider by what means delays in the course of appeal cases may be reduced?

The Attorney-General

My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor is most anxious that there should be no avoidable delay in the dispatch by the House of Lords of its judicial business. He has investigated the facts and finds that appeals in Workmen's Compensation cases are disposed of with as much ex- pedition as is consistent with their importance and with the discharge by the House of Lords of the other work which comes before that tribunal. My Noble Friend is of opinion that there is no practicable way of expediting their hearing without prejudice to the interests of other litigants.

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