§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what has been the expenditure up to 31st January from the Vote for Law Charges and Criminal Prosecutions, Ireland, under the sub-heads of the Votes—Fees to Law Officers, Fees to counsel, and Fees to prosecutors, traversers, witnesses, etc., respectively; and whether a supplementary Estimate will be presented.
§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the amounts paid during the current financial year in fees to Law Officers and counsel, expenses of witnesses, and other costs in connection with the proceedings taken against persons charged with offences connected with cattle-driving.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe expenditure from the Vote for Law Charges and Criminal Prosecutions, Ireland, for the month of January has not yet been 1104 ascertained. I will, however, state the amounts voted for the year under each of the sub-heads indicated, and the amounts expended during the nine months ending 31st December: Prosecutors, etc. (that is, Prosecutors' and Witnesses' Expenses): Amount, voted, £13,000; expended, £7,481. Fees to law officers: Voted. £1,000; expended, £1,907. Fees to counsel: Voted £7,000: expended £5,740; general law expenses (including extra expenses of traversers and their witnesses): Voted. £4,885; expended, £2,447. A supplementary estimate for £2,352 will be presented. The details asked for by the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh as to the expenditure in connection with prosecutions for cattle-driving, could not be ascertained without reference to the Crown Solicitors of the counties concerned, and this would necessarily take some time.