For common skilled witnesses in petty sessional and police courts, at quarter sessions, and at the assizes, certain maximum allowances are specified; it is left to the Clerk of the Court to decide the actual fee in each case.
For expert testimony or highly skilled evidence the fee rests with the Court or the Treasury.
For attending to give professional evidence in the town or place where the witness resides or practises: If the witness
1. Attends to give evidence in one case only, not more than one guinea per diem, even if a disagreeable examination has been necessary in order to qualify as a witness.
2. Gives evidence on the same day in two or more separate and distinct cases, not more than two guineas.
For attending elsewhere than in any town or place where the witness resides or practises, whether in one or more cases, not more than two guineas per diem. “Place” here means the area within a radius of three miles from the Court.
No full-day allowance shall be paid unless the witness is necessarily detained away from his home for at least four hours for the purpose of giving evidence, otherwise he shall receive not more than one-half of the full-day allowance.
The fare actually paid is usually allowed to a witness as travelling expenses.
A medical witness, while staying within the precincts of the Court, may be ordered to assist with his professional services.
In case of dispute, the Home Secretary, Whitehall, S.W., should be applied to forthwith.