HC Deb 14 December 1953 vol 522 cc6-7
6. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Attorney-General what remuneration is paid to commissioners acting as High Court judges to dispose of criminal and civil cases.

The Solicitor-General

Commissioners of Assize are remunerated at the rate of 100 guineas a week or part of a week. Special Commissioners for Divorce are paid at therate of 15 guineas a day, subject to a maximum of 2,700 guineas a year; county court judges receive no extra remuneration for sitting as Special Commissioners for Divorce.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman satisfied that this rate of pay attracts the most competent commissioners in view of a recent appeal in which the Lord Chief Justice had to quash the conviction of a notorious and fraudulent slum racketeer known under the names of Arthur Bertram Waters, Brady, and many other names?

The Solicitor-General

We cannot suppose that there is any widespread demand for increasing this remuneration at the present time.

Sir H. Williams

Whatever the gentleman in question may be, as, rightly or wrongly, he has been found not guilty, is it in order for the hon. and gallant Member to attack him in these terms?

Mr. Speaker

I was not aware of the circumstances of the case, but, of course, no attack should be made upon a commissioner or one holding judicial office without notice being given and a substantive Motion being put upon the Order Paper.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

May I respectfully submit, Mr. Speaker, that in the course of the appeal to which I refer, the Lord Chief Justice made it quite clear that in his view this man was a fraudulent and dishonest person?

Mr. Speaker

I do not know the circumstances of the case.