§ 13. Mr. LUNNasked the Home Secretary, in view of the number of Scotland Yard officials who were engaged last Autumn in the search for Mrs. Agatha Christie, who was later found in a Harrogate hotel, if he will say how much this search has cost the Exchequer?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSSo far as I can ascertain, about £12 10s. 0d.
§ Mr. LUNNWho is going to compensate the thousands of people who were deliberately misled by this cruel hoax? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us that?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSReally, I have no power in the matter. I imagine it was partly curiosity on the part of the thousands of people.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANDoes the £12 10s. mentioned by the Home Secretary include the charges of the policemen who were down there assisting in the search, or are the wages left out, and is the £12 10s. merely expenditure additional to the ordinary routine pay or expenses?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSPerhaps I had better ask the hon. Gentleman to give me further notice of that question. My impression is that the £12 10s. is the total amount, including the wages of the police, but if he requires details I will give them to him.
§ Mr. EVERARDWould my right hon. Friend ask the Chancellor of the Exche- 266 quer whether some of this money might not be refunded by putting a tax on advertisements?
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I ask whether the £12 10s. includes the proportion of the grant made by the Exchequer to the local authorities?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt the hon. Member will look at the question he will see that it relates to the amount of the cost to the Exchequer, and that would be the proportion of the Exchequer grant.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHave steps been taken to recover any of this money?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman desires the Government to take proceedings.