HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc939-40W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the external legal advisers he has consulted since 1 May 1997, indicating (a) the names of those firms used, (b) dates of consultation, (c) the cost of using each firm and (d) the areas of discussion.

Mr. Hoon

The only firm of external legal advisers consulted by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 1 May 1997 is Messrs Masons who have been retained since November 1996 to provide drafting and general legal advice on a contract for the provision of corporate and financial services and general legal advice on IT contracts for Crown and county courts. Advice has been provided on numerous occasions since 1 May 1997. The total cost since that date is £234,362. [55400]