§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the hourly rates which apply to the taxing of legal rates when costs are awarded to individuals who successfully pursue private prosecutions; what account is taken in such cases of the actual rates charged for legal costs; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThere are no set hourly rates applied to these cases. Determining officers have to assess what is considered to be reasonably sufficient to compensate the applicant for any expenses properly incurred by him in the proceedings. Thus an order that a private prosecutor's costs be paid from central funds may not be a complete indemnity against all the costs incurred, whatever their nature.