§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement on the proposed curtailment of sittings of courts in Wales and Chester, whether the same policy prevails elsewhere; and what changes of policy have taken place since the original policy was announced.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFollowing a reappraisal, earlier provisional proposals to cancel sittings by assistant recorders and deputy registrars on the Wales and Chester circuit have been withdrawn. Allowing for additional full-time appointments which have been made, the overall number of sitting days there is expected to be maintained. The Lord Chancellor's general policy throughout England and Wales is to sustain the greatest practicable number of court sitting days to deal with the significant increase in case loads which has taken place and to keep down delays.