§ 44. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated expenditure for 1958–59 over the whole field of the administration of justice.
§ Mr. SimonThe net cost to the Exchequer in 1958–59 of magistrates' courts, county courts, and the superior courts in England and Wales, and the corresponding Scottish courts, will be between £5 million and £51 million.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my lion. Friend add to that all the cost of the Home Office on the administration of the law, apart from the items he has dealt with, that is to say, including the 571 prisons, prisoners, legal defence, covering a very wide field? When he gives me that information, will he bear in mind that I am interested in people who do not break the law, and I wish to know whether there will be any money available for those who live on small fixed incomes? Further, will he say whether he is aware that I want a free chiropody service for old-age pensioners rather than more for prisoners?
§ Mr. SimonIf my hon. Friend wants the figure covering the whole field of crime and the prevention of crime, I can tell her that the total net cost to the Exchequer on police, prisons, probation, approved schools and so forth, as well as the courts, is about £75 million. In answer to the second part of her supplementary, I must say that I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement. The answer to the third part of her supplementary question is that I was aware of her views.