§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation so that (a) those charged with offences arising from attendance at pop festivals and similar events held at long distances from normal places of residence who are subsequently found not guilty should be entitled to reimbursement of their travel costs from their home to the court and (b) to require that such costs be taken into account in sentencing convicted defendants.
The Solicitor-GeneralNo. When a defendant is acquitted a court may award costs against the prosecution. These costs may, in appropriate cases, take account of his travel costs. In addition, when he is acquitted of an indictable offence the court may award costs out of central funds and regulations provide for the payment of travel costs. When a defendant is convicted the court may take his travel costs into account on sentencing him.