asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a Report from the Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Cornwallis, which he appointed in October last to inquire into the working of the Metropolitan Police Courts in view of the congestion of business in such Courts; and what action is being taken in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second does not, therefore, arise.

Will my right hon. Friend realise the great urgency of this matter, in view of the ill-health suffered by the Metropolitan police magistrates by reason of overwork, and will he consider the suggestion made by the London magistrates that a number of these cases might very well be dealt with in petty sessions to relieve the police magistrates in those respects?

I am fully aware that influenza, among other things, has been the occasion of overwork on the part of these magistrates, but the points mentioned by my hon. Friend are the exact ones into which this Committee is inquiring, and I know as a fact that they are sitting very regularly and working very hard.