§ Mr. PENNYasked the Attorney-General whether the whole or any part of the damages awarded against the defendants in a case of wrongful detention in an asylum tried in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice last week is to be paid by the Crown?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI have been asked to reply. An appeal is being entered1434W against the judgment in this case. Under the judgment, the sum of £5,000 is to be paid to the plaintiff by the defendant, Dr. Bond, on or before Friday next. In accordance with the principle always observed when a public servant is sued in respect of actions taken in performance of his duty and the Crown undertakes the defence, this sum will be paid from public funds. An advance of £5,000 is accordingly being made from the Civil Contingencies Fund, and the House will be asked to vote this sum and any further sum that may be found necessary by a Supplementary Vote on the Board of Control Estimates. As the appeal case is sub judice, it would not, I think, be possible to debate the case in the House pending the result.