HC Deb 28 July 1971 vol 822 cc123-4W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to reimburse costs to the local authority concerned in cases where judges order defence costs to be met from local rate funds.

Mr. Carlisle

Provision is made in the Courts Act, 1971, which my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor proposes to bring into operation on 1st January, 1972, for the transfer from local to central funds of responsibility for meeting costs in indictable proceedings which the court orders to be paid from public funds.