§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the total cost (a) to the Exchequer and (b) to the British Phosphate Commissioners as a result of legal actions which have arisen from Banabans claiming against Her Majesty's Government and the British Phosphate Commissioners; and if he will provide separate details for each case.
§ Mr. RidleyI regret that no figures are available for the overall Government costs. The Crown decided not to seek orders for costs against the Banabans but a reasonable estimate of the Crown's legal costs would be about £500,000. The British Phosphate Commissioners paid Australian dollars 1.25 million in connection with the legal actions against them. I have no information about their other costs, which are a matter for the commissioners themselves.