§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.
Mr. John M. TaylorInformation sought can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. But there is one readily identifiable case which is subject to legal action and for that reason no further details can be given.
The Lord Chancellor has three executive agencies, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. As the question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the agencies are best placed to provide an answer, I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.
Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 10 February 1995:
Parliamentary Question—Legal Action by HM Land Registry Against Consultancy FirmsI have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the occasions during the last five years when HM Land Registry has taken legal action against a consultancy firm.I can reply that there have been no such occasions.
Letter from Julia Lomas to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 10 February 1995:
The Parliamentary Secretary, of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your parliamentary question, listed on 9 February 1995 regarding legal action taken against consultancy firms over the last five years.
Over the last five years the Public Trust Office has instructed three firms of consultants and has not taken legal action against any of these firms.
Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 14 February 1995:
Parliamentary Question—Legal Action Against Consultancy Firms
I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about legal action taken against consultancy firms.
The Public Record Office has not taken any legal action against a consultancy firm during the last five years.