§ Mr. CROSSasked the Home Secretary whether in view of the high cost of fees paid to analysts and others by the Metropolitan Police, he will give instructions for all examinations of garments and other specimens to be carried out by the scientific branch of the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard in all cases which can be dealt with by means of ordinary scientific apparatus?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThe total cost of such fees in any one year is not high, the average for the last three years being less than £100 a year. Where expert evidence on scientific matters is in question, it is better that it should be given by independent witnesses free upon occasion to give evidence either for a prosecution or for a defence and not regularly employed to give evidence for the police only.