§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of the local inquiry, established in 1981 pursuant to section 32 of the Police Act 1964, to investigate the Brixton disorders; how long the inquiry took from being established to reporting; and what criteria persuaded the then Home Secretary to appoint such an inquiry. [33294]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 10 July 1995:] Home Office records show that disbursements of about £207,000, at 1981 prices, were made in association with the Scarman inquiry. They include administrative and legal costs, but do not include the staff costs of the secretariat of the inquiry or the costs of the Metropolitan police. The inquiry commenced in April 1981 and reported in November 1981. The factors that persuaded the then Home Secretary to establish the inquiry would have included the extent, seriousness and duration of the disturbances.