§ Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the bringing into operation of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949.
§ Mr. Ede:As has already been announced, Section 10 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949 (which abolishes certain commissions of the peace) will come into force on 1st October, 1951. Two steps are involved in bringing into force the remaining provisions of the Act. The first step will be taken on 1st April, 1952, and it will be to set up magistrates' courts committees and give the committees power to review, in advance of the second step, the salaries to be paid to justices' clerks when the committees become responsible for them and such other matters as will then arise.
The second step will be to transfer to these committees the full functions conferred on them by the Act (including the transfer to their employment of the staffs of the magistrates' courts) and to bring into force the financial provisions of the Act (including Sections 8, 27 and 36). This will be done on the 1st April, 1953.