asked the Attorney-General whether, in order to avoid the injustice to the citizen inherent in the inability of the legal profession to deal always with the local concentration of courts of assize and sessions sitting simultaneously for short periods, he will introduce legislation to set up Crown courts in Leeds and the West Riding of Yorkshire to deal with criminal matters.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is considering what steps are practicable to ensure that there is no avoidable delay in the adminisstration of justice in Yorkshire or elsewhere, but the Government do not believe that the setting up of further Crown courts is the right solution. If the hon. Member will bring to my attention any specific instances of hardship, I will look into them.