§ 38. Mr. CAPORNasked the Attorney-General whether he can give any estimate of the net cost, after allowing for Income Tax and fees paid by litigants, of providing three additional judges for the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice?
§ The ATTORNEY - GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)I can only give a conjectural estimate. The cost of providing three additlional judges of the King's Bench Division, after allowing for court fees, would be roughly £18,200, in addition to an indefinite sum which I cannot at present estimate representing the cost of making provision, in addition to existing premises which are fully occupied, for three judges' courts, three judges' rooms, and other necessary accommodation for subordinate staff, and the cost of postage, stationery, and the liability for pensions. The figure I have given takes into account the gross sums paid for salaries on the assumption that the temporary reduction of salaries is not in force; the proper deduction for Income Tax would depend on a variety of circumstances, and I can give no estimate of this.
§ Mr. CAPORNIs it not a fact that, except for a very few weeks of the legal year, over half the courts in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice are empty?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALThat is quite true, but during the other part of the year they are full.