§ 26. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has given to local authorities regarding the payment of hospital doctors attending magistrates' courts for the purpose of giving evidence professionally; and what is the scale of payments for general practitioners attending for the same purpose.
§ Mr. EdeThe courts have a discretion as to the award of witness allowances. In the case of indictable offences, their discretion is subject to the scales laid down in the Witnesses Allowances Regulations, 1948 (Statutory Instrument 1909 of 1948), which contain scales applicable to general practitioners. In the case of non-indictable offences there are no fixed scales, but I understand that the scales for indictable cases are followed in practice. I am informed that hospital doctors are permitted to retain any allowances they are awarded for giving evidence professionally.
§ Mr. AwberyIn the event of two persons in the same case being reported upon by a doctor, does the doctor get a double fee? In the case of three persons does he get three fees?
§ Mr. EdeSubject to investigation of particular cases, I should think that if a doctor examined two people he would be entitled to two fees. I do not know how far we should have to go before we began to have regard to the need of some diminution for quantity.