§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the expenditure of the Law Courts exceeded the receipts by £144,405 for the year 1921, although there had been a balance in hand for more than 30 years previously, any steps will be taken to avoid deficits in the future?
Mr. YOUNGIt is not quite accurate to say that the receipts from the Supreme Court have, except in 1921, always exceeded the expenditure as is implied in the question. Deficits have arisen in other years, particularly in the post-War period, due to conditions arising out of the War. It is hoped that the new scale of fees approved as the result of the recent Committee (Cmd. 1,865), combined with the close review of expenditure which has been and will continue to be exercised, will restore the pre-War position.