§ 78. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to state the extent of the financial liability to the Government involved in the Government's guarantee of responsibility for counsel in the recent case in which the Highland Railway Company were the appellants; whether the Government was consulted before four senior counsel and 2631 one junior were briefed; and how many counsel were briefed to represent the defendants in the case?
Lieut. - Colonel MOORE-BRABAZ ONThe extent of the financial liability cannot be determined until the final judgment in the case is given. The retention of counsel was a matter for the railway company, but the Government were aware of the company's intentions in this respect, and, in all the circumstances, saw no reason to dissent from the proposal to brief additional senior counsel in the last stage of the case. I have no information as to the number of counsel briefed by the respondents, but I understand that three appeared on their behalf in the proceedings before the House of Lords.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say when he will be in a position to tell the House what is the extent of the Government's liability in this matter, and whether the Treasury were consulted before this expenditure of public money was guaranteed?
§ Lieut. - Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONI shall be able to tell the hon. Member the liability when the case has been decided in the House of Lords. Until then I do not know.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the Treasury were consulted about this expenditure of public money upon four senior and one junior counsel?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONI should have to have notice of that question, but I understand the Government were consulted.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs not the money being spent among a very deserving class?