§ Mr. Jaggerasked the Attorney-General whether he is in a position to indicate whether it has yet been decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the giving of legal advice to poor persons; and, if so, can he say how the committee is to be constituted and when it will commence its deliberations?
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo, Sir, but the matter is still under the consideration of my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.
§ Miss Wilkinsonasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the appellant, Mrs. Borders, in the case of the Bradford Third Equitable Building Society versus Borders, has, in accordance with the regulations of the Lord Chancellor's Department to pay for a shorthand note of the proceedings in the lower court before she can go on with her appeal and that the cost of the note is £226; that the judge before whom the case was heard has refused to sanction the cost of the note being borne by public funds, and that in consequence Mrs. Borders cannot appeal; and whether, in view of the general importance of this case, he will have provision made for payment from the public funds of the cost of the note?
§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the inability of Mrs. Florence Elsie Borders to prosecute her appeal in the action brought against her by the Bradford Third Equitable Building Society owing to the necessity of furnishing a transcript of the earlier proceedings at a cost of £226, the court having refused to allow such transcript to be supplied at public cost; and whether, to prevent any poor person unable to bear this cost being denied the opportunity of appeal, he will consider initiating a change in the law to safeguard the interests of poor litigants?
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§ The Attorney-GeneralMy Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is looking with sympathy into the points raised in these questions. I cannot say at the moment whether he will be in a position to take any action with regard to this case but he appreciates the importance of the points raised to litigants generally.