HL Deb 04 April 1922 vol 49 cc1130-1

The Committee considered the following paragraph taken from the Third Report of the Geddes Committee:— As stated above, the Select Committee on the House of Lords Offices propose an increase of 30 per cent. in Judicial fees and a slight increase in fees for Private Bills, but in view of the great decrease in the fee revenue since 1014 and the present increased costs, we suggest that the Select Committee should give the fullest consideration to the possibility of:—

  1. 1. Increasing up to 50 per cent. the scale of Judicial fees.
  2. 2. Increasing the present fees for Private Bills by 50 per cent.
As regards Judicial fees, we are informed that 50 per cent. is roughly the increase recently imposed in the case of High Court fees.

Effect has already been given by the House of Lords to the increase of 30 per cent. in Judicial fees, and instead of increasing the fees for Private Bills the House decided to put a fee of £15 per Order on every Provisional Order included in Confirmation Bills coming before the House.

The Committee were of opinion t hat it was inexpedient to make any further increase in the ordinary fees for Private Bills. They considered also that the amount to be gained by any further increase of Judicial fees was not sufficient to justify the increase.

The question of imposing a fee on Electricity, Gas and Water Orders which are laid on the Table of the House, but do not pass through the stages of a Private Bill, will be further considered by the Committee.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The EARL of DONOUGHMORE)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Third Report of the Select Committee on House of Lords Offices be considered and adopted.

Moved accordingly, and, on question, Motion agreed to.