§ Sir DANIEL GODDARDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that in the murder charge against Arthur Garrod the Treasury solicitor was granted £18 18s. and the Treasury counsel £33 11s. in fees, is the Home Secretary aware that the solicitor for the defence received only £2 2s. for the work incidental to the defence and two days' attendance at the assizes, and counsel for the defence only received £2 2s.; and whether, in view of the object of the Act to provide a poor prisoner with legal aid in preparation and conduct of his defence, he will consider the desirability of an allowance of costs on a more liberal scale than that of which the foregoing is an example?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs at present advised I do not feel justified in altering the regulations as to paying the legal costs of a prisoner's defence so as to throw a heavier burden on the rates; but I may point out that it was within the discretion of the court to have given higher allowances than those mentioned if in its opinion this was justified by the length or difficulty of the case.