HC Deb 07 April 1830 vol 23 cc1436-8

The House resolved itself into a Committee on this Bill,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, that by a Bill to effect Legal Reform, brought in by his right hon. friend, the Secretary of State, there would be a necessity to make certain payments from the Consolidated Fund, and the object of the present measure was, to authorise the appropriation of certain surplus fees to this purpose. The Bill would make no additional charge on the Consolidated Fund. The Chancellor then submitted two Resolutions to the effect that compensation should be made out of the Consolidated Fund to Officers of the superior Courts of Justice, whose legal fees should be reduced by the operation of any Act passed this Session, and the Lords of the Treasury be authorised to purchase the interest of any person in any office or emolument in the superior Courts which may be abolished, the purchase money to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

Mr. Hume

did not wish that any measure of reform should be stopped for want of means to compensate those who might have a vested right in abuses, but he wished to see a return of the greatest amount that would be required. He believed that the amount would be upwards of 100,000l., but he hoped the Return would be laid on the Table before the Bill proceeded another stage. The whole subject required to be carefully investigated.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

stated, that the measure was necessary with a view to his right hon. friend's bill, but that one of its objects would be to guard against extravagant compensation. On former occasions the reforms made were not complete, and some of the high officers re- ceived large compensations, leaving others to be afterwards provided for out of the public purse. The bill of his right hon. friend was of an extensive nature, and before it could be carried through it was necessary that all fees should be taken away from individuals. If after making the Officers a compensation there was a surplus, the public would have the benefit; if there were not it must contribute the compensation out of other sources of supply.

Resolutions agreed to.