§ Mr. HANNONasked the Home Secretary whether the amount of law charges was £83,000 in 1913–14, and is estimated at £309,000 in the current year; and whether he will explain the circumstances in which this increase in outlay has been brought about?
Mr. YOUNGThe figures given by the hon. Member are substantially correct. The increase is due primarily to the great increase which has taken place both in the cost and the amount of the legal business of all kinds, partly due to war conditions, now thrown upon the Departments of the Procurator-General, the Treasury Solicitor (who acts for a large number of432W other Departments), and the Director of Public Prosecutions, necessitating an increase of staff in those Departments; and in the second place to the cost-of-living bonus. The services arising out of the War are estimated to cost £57,000 for the current year.