§ 40. Mr. B. SMITHasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of George William Thomas Turner, a London General omnibus driver, who was convicted on the 29th December of being drunk whilst in charge of his vehicle, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment in the second division, and who, on appealing against this decision on the 8th February, was successful in such appeal, in spite of which he has to pay the costs of the proceedings and is not compensated for the period of over a month during which he was debarred from following his occupation; and will he give early consideration to the necessity for revising the law on this subject, in view of the circumstances quoted above and the high cost of such appeals, which is anything between £40 and £80?
Mr. HENDERSONThe Court has a discretion as to ordering the payment of costs by either party to an appeal. In this case the Court made no order, and accordingly the appellant would have to pay, not the costs of the proceedings, but the costs incurred by himself. Whether 1591 in view of the discretion already vested in the Court there is need for any further legislation is a question of some difficulty, but I propose to confer with the Lord Chancellor on the issue raised.
§ Mr. SMITHWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of raiding the Police Fund to reimburse the costs to this man, amounting to £80, and the loss of a month's work? Surely there is some way by which this man can be reimbursed?
Mr. HENDERSONI have not been able to find out any way as yet, but I am prepared to confer with the Lord Chancellor on the whole subject.