§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £4,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Law Officers' Department, the Salaries and Expenses of the Departments of His Majesty's Procurator-General and of the Solicitor for the Affairs of His Majesty's Treasury, and of the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions; the Costs of Prosecutions, of other Legal Proceedings, and of Parliamentary Agency.
§ 10.39 p.m.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe expenditure under Sub-head E, which is the only Sub-head affected by this Supplementary Estimate, during the years 1935 and 1936 was £13,060 and £15,170 respectively. In the nine months ended 31st December, 1937, £15,400 had been spent. Experience has shown that expenditure in the last quarter of the financial year is always heavier than in any other quarter, and it is now estimated that £22,000 will be needed for this purpose for the whole year. The Estimate at the beginning of the year was £18,000 but it is now estimated that £22,000 will be required. The activities of the Departments concerned with the Defence services and Trunk 1047 Roads account for a large part of the increase. A number of arbitrations arising out of the acquisition of land have been involved and considerably more work has devolved upon the Treasury Solicitor. Then there were hearings before the tribunal which was set up by agreement between the Mineral Owners' Joint Committee and His Majesty's Government in connection with the unification of coal royalties.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceWhat sort of item does the additional sum cover? Does any part of it go to augment the fees of the Law Officers of the Crown? When costs and fees are referred to, what is meant by costs? If the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will answer those questions we may be in a better position to know whether to support this increase.
§ 10.42 p.m.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe largest item is £2,840, which is for the hearings before the tribunal which was set up by agreement. It was all Government-side expenditure in preparing the case and for the fees that had to be paid. The preparation of the case required technical experts. I do not think I should be in order in enlarging very much upon that preparation, but the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it was highly technical in character. A great part of the expenditure was laid out in that way, in costs and fees to technical experts.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceNot to the Law Officers of the Crown?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI think I am right in saying "No, not to the Law Officers of the Crown." It was a highly technical matter, and I think it was right that the best technical advice was obtained on the subject. Almost three-quarters of the Estimate is for that cost. The rest is due to extra work in connection with the defence services and trunk roads.
§ Mr. BateyAre we to understand that expenses in connection with the mineral rights inquiry are not to be covered by the Coal Commission?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleNot this expenditure. These were expenses that we had to bear as our share of the cost of the inquiry.
§
Resolved,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £4,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March. 1938, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Law Officers' Department, the Salaries and Expenses of the Departments of His Majesty's Procurator-General and of the Solicitor for the Affairs of His Majesty's Treasury, and of the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions; the Costs of Prosecutions, of other Legal Proceedings, and of Parliamentary Agency.