§ 32. Mr. Moyleasked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to ensure that students who suffer loss of vacation earnings as a result of being called for jury service receive appropriate financial compensation.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA student who has taken up temporary employment during the vacation and who suffers a loss of earnings as a result of being called for jury service is entitled to financial compensation in the same way as any other employed person who suffers actual loss of earnings.
§ Mr. MoyleIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this decision is not being applied in all cases and that, according to the details of a case that I have sent the Government, a student was deprived of these earnings? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman ensure in future that these decisions are taken on the basis that those people who do their public duty are encouraged to do so and not penalised for doing so?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is a question of loss of earnings which has been necessarily suffered or expenses which have been necessarily incurred. With regard to the general point raised by the hon. Gentleman, arrangements are being made that the Crown Courts should be advised that, where applications are made by students on the ground of financial hardship that they should be excused, such applications should be considered sympathetically.
§ Sir Elwyn JonesIf the student referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) were able to establish his claim and were now to make it, would the right hon. and learned Gentleman take a sympathetic view?
§ The Attorney-GeneralYes, certainly.