§ 41. Commander BELLAIRSasked whether the custody of the naval prize money has been left with the several Prize Courts; whether this was done under Order in Council, and, if so, when the Order in Council was published in the "London Gazette"; and, if not, why Section 29 of the Naval Prize Act, 1864, as to paying this money to His Majesty's Paymaster-General or an official accountant appointed by the Admiralty or Treasury, has not been carried out?
§ Mr. McKENNAMoneys for which the Admiralty Division of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Prize is accountable are held by the Assistant Paymaster-General for Supreme Court Business "on behalf of the Admiralty Division in Prize." Moneys for which Oversea Prize Courts are accountable are, in certain cases, held by the Assistant Paymaster-General in the account of the Oversea Prize Disposal Committee, in other cases they remain in the custody of the Court concerned. The Order in Council of 5th August, 1914, brought into operation the Prize Court Rules, 1914, for regulating the procedure and practice of Prize Courts. Section 29 of the Naval Prize Act, 1864, was repealed by the Prize Courts Procedure Act, 1914, as from the date when the Prize Court Rules, 1914, came into operation; that is from 4th August, 1914.
§ Commander BELLAIRSDo I understand that the custody of the money is not in the hands of the Civil Prize Courts? Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Admiralty to the fact, as it was stated in the House the other day the funds were in the custody of the Civil Prize Courts?
§ Mr. McKENNAI should like to have further notice of that question. I rather think that some of the money is in the hands of the Civil Prize Courts.