(3) Where an information is laid before a justice of the peace for any area but the information is not proceeded with (either by summary trial or by an inquiry by examining magistrates), a magistrates’ court for that area may make such order as to costs to be paid by the prosecutor to the accused as it thinks just and reasonable.
(4) An order under subsection (3) above shall specify the amount of the costs ordered to be paid.
(5) Where a person committed for trial is not ultimately tried, the Crown Court shall have the same power to order payment of costs under this Act as if the accused had been tried and acquitted.
Central funds. 13.—(1) In this Act and in any other enactment providing for payment of costs out of central funds “central funds” means money provided by Parliament.
(2) The Secretary of State shall, out of money so provided, pay to the persons charged with the duty of making the payments concerned all sums required to meet payments ordered to be made out of central funds under this Act or any other such enactment as is referred to in subsection {1) above.
Payment of costs ordered by superior courts to be paid out of central funds. 14.—(1) As soon as there has been ascertained the amount due to any person as costs ordered (under this or any other Act) by the Crown Court to be paid out of central funds, the appropriate officer of the Crown Court shall pay the amount so ascertained to that person, or to any person appearing to him to be acting on behalf of that person.
(2) As soon as there has been ascertained the amount due to any person as costs ordered (under this or any other Act) to be paid out of central funds by a Divisional Court, by the Court of Appeal or by the House of Lords,—
- (a) the master of the Crown Office, in the case of a Divisional Court, and
- (b) the registrar of criminal appeals, in the case of the Court
of Appeal or the House of Lords,
shall pay the amount so ascertained to that person, or to any person appearing to him to be acting on behalf of that person.
Payment of costs ordered by magistrates’ courts to be paid out of central funds. 15.—(1) As soon as there has been ascertained the amount due to any person as costs ordered to be paid out of central funds by a magistrates’ court—
- (a) dealing summarily with an indictable offence, or
- (b) inquiring into an offence as examining justices and determining not to commit the accused for trial, or
- (c) where an information is not proceeded with, as mentioned in section 12(1) above,
