§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the two Judges in the Court of Appeal on the amount of the fees paid to counsel and to the handicap inflicted on poor litigants; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation for the purpose of limiting fees payable to counsel?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI have seen reports of the remarks of the two Lords Justices in question. The fees of counsel are a matter of arrangement with solicitors. They are subject to taxation, and it by no means follows that the whole of the expense involved has to be borne by the unsuccessful litigant. I may add that a poor litigant admitted to sue under the Poor Persons' Rules enjoys greater advantages at the present time than at any other period of legal history. Not only is he exempt from Court fees, but counsel and solicitors act for him gratuitously. I do not consider any action is necessary.