HC Deb 27 February 1964 vol 690 cc616-7
22. Sir W. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent recommendation, a copy of which has been sent to him, made by the Law Committee and the General Purposes Committee of the Association of Municipal Corporations that the costs of prosecutions undertaken by the Director of Public Prosecutions, either directly or using a local agent, should be borne by the Exchequer, he will now reconsider his decision not to seek to alter the law as it stands at present on this matter.

Mr. Brooke

I received the recommendation of the Association of Municipal Corporations the day before yesterday. I am considering it.

Sir W. Teeling

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the old law dates back to days long before there were motor cars, aeroplanes or railways and that it is grossly unfair, for instance, to a place like Brighton which has been landed with the charges for the horse doping case in which there was no one from Brighton involved at all and to a place which faces a still worse case arising from the railway robbery in Buckinghamshire?

Mr. Brooke

I have answered Questions about the mail train robbery, and I have said in reply to my hon. Friend that I am considering the letter which has come from the Association of Municipal Corporations which raises rather wider issues than those which have hitherto been put put to me in the House.