§ Mr. FOOTasked the Home Secretary whether there are any statistics showing the number of accused persons, who during the past 12 months have been accorded the benefit of the Poor Persons Defence Act, and the cost to which the Treasury has been put in this respect?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf the hon. Member refers to the Poor Prisoners Defence Act, 1903, I have no information as to the number of defendants who benefit by it. The costs are paid as part of the costs of prosecutions from local funds, not by the Treasury.