§ Mr. Lunnasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that men and women, when sworn in as justices of the peace at the West Riding quarter sessions, have to pay a fee of £2 2s.; on what authority, statutory or otherwise, such a fee is imposed and where the money goes to; and is he aware that such a fee is not demanded in other counties and boroughs in the country?
§ Mr. PeakeI have been asked to reply. The fees in question are prescribed by 1307W quarter sessions under the powers given them by Section 30 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1848, and are paid into the county fund. It used to be a common practice to charge such fees, but they have now been generally abandoned, and my right hon. Friend is in entire sympathy with the view that justices of the peace should not be charged fees on accepting office. He has been in communication with the Clerk of the Peace for the West Riding, who informs him that the question of forgoing these fees will be considered by quarter sessions at an early date.