§ 40. Mr. McNamaraasked the Attorney-General whether he will consider increasing the amount of compensation to jurors for loss of earnings.
§ The Solicitor-General (Mr. Peter Archer)My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has asked me to explain that his absence is due to the fact that he is appearing before the International Court of Justice. The financial loss allowance was increased last July. It will continue to be kept under review.
§ Mr. McNamaraI appreciate perhaps more than most Members why the Attorney-General is in The Hague. Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that in the present state of inflation it is wrong that jurymen, performing a public service, should feel a sense of injustice about the level of wages which they are losing and that, although there has been a review, it should be done on a more regular basis to keep compensation in line with average earnings?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is true that those whose earnings are above average are likely to lose financially during jury service. But the matter should be kept in perspective. The loss of earnings allowance is not subject to income tax, as the earnings would have been, and there is a subsistence allowance.