§ * MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Justices of the Peace newly appointed to borough benches have to pay a fee of £2 per head; whether such Justices of the Peace can qualify by paying a reduced fee of £1 in London; and whether, if the facts be as stated, there is any reason for such differenceand for any payment whatsoever in this connection.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.I have no information as to what are the fees generally charged to Justices of the Peace newly appointed to borough benches. The fee authorised in London is £2. As to the reasons for charges in this connection, I may say that there is a fee of £1 payable to the Crown Office on the insertion of new names in a Commission of the Peace, and that there are other fees varying in amount according to the table of fees in force in the different jurisdictions and payable to the Clerk of the Peace for services rendered, e.g., administering the oaths, correspondence, etc. I have no initiative in the matter. My powers are limited to giving my approval, with or without amendment, of such new tables of fees as may be submitted to me.
§ MR. REESWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the matter, since many of the new magistrates have more merit than money?
§ MR. GLADSTONEsaid he thought it would be useful to obtain a Return of the scales of fees charged.