§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answers given by the Lord Chancellor on 30 January 1995 (WA 101) and on 18 December 1996 (WA 131), whether it is now possible for them to give the full details concerning legal aid paid to barristers and each solicitor in R. v. Maxwell Brothers, including how much was paid to each barrister and each solicitor.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)I am not in a position to provide full details of the amounts paid to individual banisters and solicitors firms in the proceedings against K and I Maxwell, L Trachtenberg, R Bunn, A Fuller and M Stoney because not all the claims have been settled. I can confirm, however, that £13.36 million had been paid as of 17 June 1997 from the legal aid fund to lawyers who acted in this case. That sum includes £1.95 million paid on account in respect of Crown Court proceedings and £0.83 million paid in respect of the magistrates' costs.
It is estimated that the final costs of the case will not be known before early 1998, when all outstanding claims, including redeterminations, have been dealt with.