§ 4. Mr. Tinkerasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that at the inquest held in Leigh on the five persons who lost their lives at Astley Green collieries on 6th June, the jurymen attended on nth, 17th, 18th and 19th July; that some of them had to lose work, and therefore wages; and will he say in what way recompense will be made to them for the loss?
§ Mr. PeakeThe general principle of the law is that jury service is one of the remaining public services which citizens are required to undertake without financial compensation, though in some cases small allowances are payable. The amount which may be paid by a coroner to a person who attends at an inquest is governed by the scale of allowances made by the local authority under the Coroners' Acts. My right hon. Friend has no information of the scale of allowances fixed by the Lancashire County Council.
§ Mr. TinkerCan the hon. Gentleman advise me how to tell these people to proceed in order to get some recompense, as this is a serious matter for a man who has to leave his work and attend for three or four days and get no recompense?
§ Mr. PeakeIf these men have received no fees or allowances, they should apply to the coroner. The coroner has discretion within the limits fixed by the scale of fees laid down by the county council.
§ Mr. TinkerMay I take it that I should tell them to proceed on that line, and then let the hon. Gentleman know what happens?
§ Mr. PeakeI should prefer, if the hon. Member fails to get any satisfaction in that way, that he should take the matter up with the county council upon whom the primary responsibility falls for settling a schedule of fees and allowances.