§ 41. Mr. GAVAN DUFFYasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to paragraph 41 of the recent Report of the committee to consider 2562 County Court fees, in which they say that substantial fees are payable on investment of sums paid into the County Courts by way of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906; and, having regard to the fact that the committee express it as their opinion that it is unjust that the Court should exact these latter fees, and thereby reduce the compensation which those who have suffered ought to receive, will he adopt the committee's recommendation that when money is paid into Court by an employer he should pay a fee covering the investment, if any, and all subsequent applications for payment out, so that the beneficiaries may obtain the full amount of the compensation awarded them?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Report to which the hon. Member refers is being considered by the Lord Chancellor and the Treasury. In so far as the Committee recommend legislation or alterations in the Fees Order which are dependent upon legislation, steps are being taken to carry out those recommendations by means of provisions in a County Courts Bill which will shortly be presented to Parliament. The Treasury and the Lord Chancellor do not propose to come to a final decision as to the Fees Order recommended by the Committee, or as to any particular items in it, until the County Courts Bill has been considered by Parliament.