§ Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the Prune Minister whether his attention had been called to the fact that, under existing conditions, men summoned to act as common jurors in criminal cases not only 1964 receive no remuneration for their services, but, if living at a distance, have to pay their own travelling expenses, and are in consequence losers of both time and money; and whether he will undertake to give Members of Parliament an opportunity, before voting for salaries for themselves, for work voluntarily undertaken, to vote for fair remuneration for those working men who are compelled to serve the State as common jurors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERUpon the subject of the status and remuneration of jurors—which has, in my opinion, no connection with the question of payment of Members—I must refer the hon. Gentleman to answers given by the Home Secretary on 6th and 20th March.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as the opportunities for discussion of questions raised by private Members are now practically nil the Government will take care to hold a preliminary inquiry before legislation is introduced?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhile not satisfied with the existing state of the law in regard to the conditions under which common jurors serve in criminal cases, we think there should be some preliminary inquiry before any change is proposed.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEMay I ask if the inquiry will take place at an early date?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)I have had some communications on this subject. I think that there should be an inquiry either by a Departmental Committee or possibly by a Royal Commission, but I have not finally decided either upon the form of the inquiry or the terms of reference.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am quite willing to consider that suggestion.