Justices of the Peace (Payment for Loss of Earnings)

HC Deb 20 March 1969 vol 780 c719

14. Mr. Booth

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when payment for loss of earnings to justices of the peace will commence.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

I regret that I cannot yet say when payment will begin

Mr. Booth

Will my hon. Friend accept that, by refusing to pay justices of the peace loss of earnings, he is placing the working men who serve the community in this capacity at a very serious financial disadvantage, and, further, that if he continues to refuse in this way he will deter men from accepting these positions?

Mr. Morgan

I have considerable sympathy with my hon. Friend's views. As the House will know, when Section 4 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1968, comes into force, it will be possible for these payments to be made. In the debates on the Bill, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General made it clear that the financial loss allowance could not be introduced at present in the economic circumstances obtaining.