HC Deb 19 April 1955 vol 540 cc3-4W
Sir R. Perkins

asked the Attorney-General, in the case of a petition for special leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in forma pauperis, what provisions there are for the payment from public funds of the appellants' London agents and counsel prior to the Privy Council's decision on the petition; and what is the situation between the granting of the petition by the Privy Council and the final decision of the appeal by the Privy Council.

The Attorney-General

In the case of petitions and appeals in forma pauperis to Her Majesty in Council there are no provisions for payment from public funds to the appellants' London agents or counsel at any stage, either prior to the decision on the petition or between the granting of the petition and the final decision of the appeal. There is a Rota of Privy Council agents who are willing to act in criminal cases for pauper petitioners and appellants without charging fees. Counsel prepare such cases and appear in them without payment and no Privy Council office fees are payable by the appellant. Moreover in criminal cases where the appellant is a pauper it is usual for the Crown to meet the costs of printing the Record and the appellant's Case and binding the Record for the use of the Board.