HC Deb 02 December 1925 vol 188 cc2222-3
55. Captain BENN

asked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to introduce legislation so to amend the Criminal Evidence Act, 1898, as to exempt the exempt the Attorney-General from the provisions of Section 1 (b), which forbids comment by the prosecution on the failure of any person charged with an offence to give evidence?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Douglas Hogg)

No, Sir.

Captain BENN

Is the right and learned Gentleman aware that, according to all the available evidence, he himself infringed this Act in a recent case, and what action does he propose to take?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

There was no infringement by me in any recent case, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman had attended the Debate yesterday instead of attending only the Division Lobby he would have had the opportunity of hearing what was said.

Captain BENN

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the "Star" newspaper states that the Attorney-General drew attention to the effect that the accused did not give evidence, and is he prepared to produce the official report of his own speech?

The ATTORNEY - GENERAL

In answer to the first part of the question, I know that the "Star" newspaper inaccurately reported that; they did not report the speech, but inaccurately summarised it. As to the second part of the question, I have already stated that there are no public funds available for the purpose. I have a transcript of the speech, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would like to read it I shall be happy to lend it to him.

Captain BENN

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that a serious charge of this kind can be lightly treated, and is ho aware that his own speech bears out the accuracy of the charge?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

In answer to the first part of the question, it depends who makes the charge. In answer to the second part of the question, I have already stated that my speech does not bear out the charge, and nobody in this House ventured to suggest that it did.

Captain BENN

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman prepared to make the text of his own speech available to Members of this House?