Orders of the Day — County Courts [Salaries and Allowances].

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 14 May 1924.

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Photo of Sir Douglas Hogg Sir Douglas Hogg , St Marylebone

I am very much obliged to the Attorney-General for that explanation, which shows that there was not quite such a discrepancy as I had feared. Possibly I was under a misapprehension as to what the Attorney-General told the Committee, but, when we are dealing with figures of this sort, which are just a little difficult to follow when they are given on the Floor of the Committee, I think it is desirable that the Members of the Committee should have an opportunity of knowing in detail what the calculations are, so that they may form a judgment as to the amount to which they are committing the country. I am not in the least suggesting that the expenditure in this case is not amply justified, and is not, indeed a very moderate one. I am quite confident that it is. I entirely support the Resolution, but I think that this is a useful opportunity to reinforce my hon. Friend's suggestion, which I think is a valuable one. There is one other point, which is almost microscopic. I notice that in the Resolution there is a reference to powers taken to pay certain officers in the Lord Chancellor's Department. As far as I knew from the Bill, there are no officers in the Lord Chancellor's Department who are concerned. The only reference to the possibility of there being such officers is in regard to some power, I think, to appoint examiners, or something of that kind, to examine the accounts. I do not know whether that is the occasion of the reference, but it struck me as a little difficult to understand. I am heartily glad that this Resolution has been introduced. I congratulate the Government on finding time for it, and I entirely endorse the words of commendation in which the Attorney-General recommended it to the attention of the Committee.