§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Energy which counsel is briefed by his Department with regard to the Sizewell inquiry; and what is his best estimate of the costs incurred to date.
§ Mr. John MooreMr. Jeremy Sullivan QC has been briefed by the Treasury Solicitor on behalf of my Department for this inquiry. I understand it is not the Treasury Solicitor's practice to disclose fees paid to individual counsel.
§ Me. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many working hours have so far been completed in preparation and presentation by his Department's legal staff or commercial firms of solicitors instructed by him in connection with the Sizewell inquiry.
§ Mr. John MooreThis information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. No commercial firms of solicitors have been instructed on my behalf in connection with this inquiry.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what legal costs have been incurred, to date, by his Department in connection with the Sizewell inquiry;
(2) by what method his Department monitors the progress of, and the likely eventual total costs of, legal costs incurred by his Department in connection with the Sizewell inquiry.
§ Mr. John MooreThe only legal costs incurred by my Department in connection with this inquiry are those of retaining counsel to represent my Department's interests. Fees for counsel representing my Department will be approved and paid by the Treasury Solicitor.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the names of the instructing firms of solicitors employed by his Department in connection with the Sizewell inquiry; and what is the actual or estimated cost to the Department involved in employing such firms since the inception of the inquiry.
§ Mr. John MooreNo solicitors other than the Treasury Solicitor have been instructed to act on behalf of my Department in connection with this inquiry.