§ 1. Mr. Higgsasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the increase in the Bank rate, the Supreme Court Funds Rules and the County Court Funds Rules will be amended so as to allow a higher rate of interest on funds ordered by the court to be invested.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Lionel Heald)My noble and learned Friend the 2 Lord Chancellor is considering, in consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any increase in the rate of interest on funds in court is justifiable.
§ Mr. HiggsWill my hon. and learned Friend represent in the proper quarters that much of the money invested in the courts is invested on behalf of infants who have been awarded damages, and so on, and that there is no option but that the money must remain there? In those circumstances, is it not right and proper that infants should be credited with the same rate of interest as is generally available when the general rate of interest rises?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI will see that the observations of my hon. Friend are brought to the notice of the appropriate quarters.