§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what contributions have so far been made from the legal aid fund towards the defence costs of(a) Kevin Maxwell and (b) Ian Maxwell; and what have been the costs incurred by the defence in carrying out public opinion surveys. [24925]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe total amount of criminal legal aid paid to date to lawyers acting for all six defendants in R v. Kevin Maxwell and Others is £4,745,391. This amount includes final costs in the magistrates' court of £829,377 as well as payments on account, as of 24 January 1995, in the Crown Court of £3,916,014. All payments include VAT and disbursements, such as expert witness and accountancy fees, and other expenses necessarily incurred. It would not be appropriate while the case is continuing to give a further breakdown of these figures. Nothing has been paid from the legal aid fund to cover the cost of public opinion surveys conducted by the defence.