§ Mr. BENTHAMasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing the Budget, he will consider the propriety of providing for the scale of court fees chargeable in county courts being revised, and reduced fees charged in the smaller actions tried in those courts; whether he is aware that in actions tried in those courts the charge is one of 3s. in the pound on the amount claimed, so that on a claim for £1 1s. heard a court fee of 6s. has to he paid; and whether he is aware that the scale of fees is fixed by authority of His Majesty's Treasury?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe scale of fees in county courts is fixed by the Treasury with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor. Certain reductions were thus made in the year 1901, and I am not aware of any adequate reason for further altering the scale which is at present insufficient to meet the total expenditure on the county courts. But I will communicate with the Lord Chancellor on the subject.