HC Deb 23 March 1908 vol 186 cc1092-4
MR. J. W. WILSON (Worcestershire, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken by the Treasury, or otherwise within the knowledge of the Department, to arrange for the appointment of shorthand writers for the service of the courts under the provisions of Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907; what terms have been proposed; and whether those terms are in accordance with the hitherto recognised scale of remuneration for duly qualified and professionally responsible service of that nature.

MR. RUNCIMAN

The appointment of shorthand writers for the purpose of the Criminal Appeal Act does not rest with the Treasury. I understand that the Home Office has addressed a circular to recorders and chairmen of quarter sessions on the subject. The terms of payment fixed by the Treasury are a guinea for each day's necessary attendance with 8d. per folio for transcripts, this payment to cover the supply of a copy of the transcript also when required by the officer for whom the transcript is ordered. For any further copies of transcript supplied either for public use or for parties interested 1½d. a folio will be payable. The rates do not differ materially from those which the Treasury has hitherto paid when it has been necessary to employ a shorthand writer in legal cases.

MR. J. W. WILSON

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to secure that before the proposed terms for shorthand writing under Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, are further suggested to local shorthand writers, a reply is made to the representations submitted to the Treasury upon the subject in January by the council of the Institute of Journalists, on behalf of qualified shorthand writers, being journalists, in all parts of the country; and whether he can give any information as to when the Rules of Court framed under the Act will be laid before the House.

MR. RUNCIMAN

The representations which were submitted to the Treasury by the Institute of Journalists were duly considered before the terms of payment for shorthand writing under the Criminal Appeal Act were fixed, but the communication did not appear to the Treasury to call for any reply beyond the usual acknowledgment of receipt. I understand that the Rules of Court under the Act were laid before Parliament on Wednesday last, and will be available for Members shortly.