§ Sir G. Nabarroasked the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of costs inherent in projected legislation to reimburse successful litigants, in all fields of activity, in the courts, with the costs attendant upon their cases; and whether he will make a statement of Government policy in this regard.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI do not know to what projected legislation my hon. Friend is referring. In every case the court has a discretion to award the costs of a successful litigant against the losing party, and, in the case of a successful defendant in criminal matters, for his costs to be met out of central funds. It is not possible to estimate in advance the amount of such costs, which depend upon the facts of each case.