HC Deb 14 July 1969 vol 787 cc26-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the correspondence, dated 9th July, from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, giving particulars of delays in dealing with legal cases, particularly at the Middlesex Sessions and Surrey Quarter Sessions; and whether he will have investigations made into the delays in the Greater London Council area so far as court cases are concerned.

The Attorney-General

The speed with which cases are dealt with by courts of quarter sessions in Greater London, Surrey and elsewhere is a subject which comes within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions to which I referred when replying to a question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 30th June. I do not consider that any other general investigation is required before the Royal Commission reports. As to the specific matters relating to Middlesex and Surrey Sessions which were raised in the correspondence dated 9th June. to which my hon. Friend refers, my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is making inquiries and a reply will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as these have been completed.—[Vol. 786, c. 27–8.]