§ SIR C. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to his offer to state the view of the Government on the possible reduction of fees in county courts, on the Vote on Account, and to the fact that the subject may probably not be reached, he will undertake to at once consider the fees in county courts together with the legal authorities, with a view to re- 1310 duction; and whether it is the case that county court fees in many cases are higher than would be in the same cases the fees in the superior courts?
§ MR. HANBURYThis subject is all ready being considered by the Treasury in order to see whether such a reduction of fees can properly be effected. It is no doubt true that in many cases the fees are higher than in the Superior Courts. These are, however, not as a rule the fees levied in actions for small amounts; and in almost all cases the fees charged in the county courts include payment for work which in the superior courts would be done by solicitors at the cost of the litigant.