HC Deb 18 January 1977 vol 924 cc54-5
2. Mr. Gow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to know the cost to public funds of the legal proceedings in which her Department was involved in the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords in connection with secondary education in Tameside during 1976.

Miss Margaret Jackson

I understand from the Treasury Solicitor's Department that this may take some months.

Mr. Gow

As it is more than six months since the proceedings that were disastrous for the Government took place in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, can the Minister tell the House whether the estimate of somewhere between £20,000 and £30,000 is right? What defence can there be for this money coming out of public funds when the two courts found that the Minister had fundamentally misdirected himself in this matter?

Miss Jackson

As the hon. Gentleman has already been told, and as was said in a Written Answer to another hon. Member on 10th January, we cannot confirm whether the costs will be £20,000 because the Crown's costs will be assessed only when the initial costs have been decided. This will take some months.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will my hon. Friend convey to all her ministerial colleagues that the Government's determination to stand up against the Appeal Court's attempts to encroach upon the rights of the Government—both with regard to Tameside and the present case —is money well spent? Can my hon. Friend make sure that whenever the courts attempt to encroach upon Parliament's rights the Government will stand up to them?

Miss Jackson

I think that I should not stray into the territory of others of my right hon. Friends. My hon. Friend knows the views of the Secretary of State in full, having had an Adjournment debate on the matter.