§ Mr. HOWARDasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that under existing circumstances an owner who successfully objects at a local inquiry to the inclusion of his property in a slum clearance or compulsory purchase order, if granted any costs, is only awarded a nominal sum at the discretion of the Minister, he will consider amending legislation in order that the costs of successful objectors shall be taxed in the same way as in the law courts by a taxing master or, alternatively, that the amount of the costs to be awarded to successful objectors shall be decided by the county court judge of the district in which the excluded property is situate.
Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. As at present advised I see no reason for an alteration of the existing law in this regard.
§ Mr. HOWARDIs my right hon. Friend aware that in one particular case the certified legal and technical expenses of a successful objector amounted to over—40, but the amount awarded was a meagre £8 8s.?
Sir H. YOUNGMy hon. Friend has been so good as to draw my attention to this case, and I have endeavoured to ex plain to him the principles on which the seawards are based.