§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General what was the actual or estimated cost of the Thorpe committal and Old Bailey proceedings to the Exchequer; and what action he has taken or intends taking to control and reduce these high legal costs.
The Attorney-GeneralIt is too soon after the end of the proceedings for me to be able to give the actual costs of the trial or a reasonably accurate estimate. I have already indicated in the House that I believe the decision taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute these proceedings was the correct one. Any consideration of legal costs in general ought to await the publication of the report of the Royal Commission on legal services which is expected in the autumn.