§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the waste of time and money, and of the inconvenience, aggravated by war-time conditions of travelling, caused to witnesses attending courts of law on subpoena through the number of cases included in the daily cause lists being habitually far in excess of the number for which time is likely to be available; and whether he will consult with the appropriate authorities with a view to having more convenient arrangements made?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI shall be glad to send my hon. Friend an analysis of the figures of cases listed and heard in the King's Bench Division during the present sittings, from which he will see that the number put in the daily cause list for each judge on each day is not in excess of the time likely to be available, and that, in fact, but a small percentage of cases are not reached on the days on which they first appear in the cause list for trial. In the Chancery Division generally the lists are arranged with a view to meeting the convenience, so far as possible, of the persons concerned with the action, and if it should appear that inconvenience may be caused to witnesses, the judge will, on application to him, fix a day for hearing. It is impossible wholly to guard against the inconvenience which my hon. Friend describes, but those responsible for the lists are anxious that the inconvenience should be avoided as far as possible.