§ Mr. HURDasked the Attorney-General what has been the expenditure of public money to date upon the litigation begun 13 months ago at the instance of the Crown in defence of the Food Controller's levy upon milk producers in the southwestern counties, which the Court of Appeal declares to have been illegal and unconstitutional; and whether, in the interests both of national economy and agricultural production, this litigation will now be ended?
§ Sir G. HEWARTThe case apparently referred to in the question involves a sum of at least £250,000, and in the King's Bench Division was decided in favour the Food Controller. That decision was reversed on appeal, and the taxed costs of the defendants in the Court of Appeal and in the Court below, amounting to £1,135, have been paid to them by the Food Department of the Board of Trade. The costs incurred by the Food Department itself up to yesterday amount to £880. It is hoped by a successful appeal to the House of Lords not only to retrieve all these costs but also to secure the capital sum of £250,000.