§ 21. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the scope and terms of reference of the Departmental Committee he has appointed to examine and report on the arrangements and machinery for providing legal aid in criminal proceedings in such a way as to enable the Committee to consider and report on the costs of such proceedings and on the provision of compensation to persons injured or financially damaged by criminal acts.
§ Mr. BrookeI do not consider it advisable to extend and complicate the Committee's task in these ways. The Government is already, as the House knows, introducing a scheme for the compensation of victims of crimes of violence.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Home Secretary realise that that Answer is just as complicated as the reference to the Committee, and gives no information whatsoever? Is he aware that great injustice may be done to a person who is charged and found not guilty and then has to pay his own costs and thereby may suffer great financial and other loss? Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the Committee provides for this?
§ Mr. BrookeI am sorry that the hon. and learned Member was not able to understand my transparently clear Answer, but the addition of these other questions, which he suggests, would entirely change the character of the task of the Committee whose members were selected to advise on legal aid.
§ Mr. HughesOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.