§ Lord McCarthyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the costs of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, including the costs arising from the publication by the inquiry of the names of witnesses in Appendix 11 of the inquiry's report. [HL3902]
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§ Lord Williams of MostynThe final costs of the inquiry have yet to be determined as there are outstanding bills for settlement in terms of legal fees. However, the costs incurred to date are:
Costs Pay and allowances: Inquiry team, advisers and civil servants £667,000 Accommodation and associated costs £710,000 Legal representation and Treasury Solicitors costs £2,045,000 Miscellaneous running costs £777,000 This provides a total cost to date of £4.199 million. We have accepted the recommendation of Sir William Macpherson, chairman of the inquiry, that the Metropolitan Police Service should, in accordance with Section 49(5) of the Police Act 1996, meet the full costs of setting up and establishing the inquiry, together with all costs which directly accrued from part 1 of the inquiry relating to the police investigation of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. These costs amount to £3.170 million to date of the total costs and these have been met by the Metropolitan Police.
We have also accepted Sir William's recommendation that the costs of part 2 of the inquiry, on the future handling of racially motivated crime, should be met by the Home Office as the findings were of more general application.
We have always made clear that we would take steps to remedy the serious problems caused to a number of people by the inquiry's error in publishing Appendix 11 of the inquiry's report in full. Arrangements have, therefore, been made to reimburse the costs arising from the need of 18 families and individuals to be moved by Greenwich Council or to sell their houses. The final amount spent for this purpose, including staff costs incurred by the council, is not yet known but is likely to be about £650,000.