§ 90. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of a murder trial in which the Public Prosecutor takes up the case, he can say whether the costs incurred by the prosecution, which sometimes run into thousands of pounds, are paid by the county rates in which the case occurs or are paid by the Treasury?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThe costs of the Director of Public Prosecutions in a murder trial are payable from voted moneys, but under the provisions of the Prosecution of Offences and Costs in Criminal Cases Acts, 1908, the Court is empowered to direct the payment of certain allowances towards the costs of the prosecution out of the funds of the county borough or county in which the offence was committed.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYDoes that mean that in future the county has always to pay these costs and is it not fair, where there are two or three murder trials considered important enough to have the Public Prosecutor prosecuting, that these costs should be taken over by the Treasury and not fall upon the county?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI do not know whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman heard my answer. It is all contained in the Act of 1908 and, as far as I am concerned, that Act stands and controls the situation.
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONCould we not have cheaper counsel to conduct the prosecution?