§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total costs of the Lancet and associated inquiries to date, indicating the costs of the witness statements submitted to the CPS, broken down into(a) stationery, (b) postage, (c) clerical, (d) officers and (e) heating and lighting; and if he will make a statement. [154924]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand from the Chief Constable of Cleveland police that the total police costs of the Lancet and associated inquiries to date is £3,252,000. The total cost is inclusive of salaries, overtime and travel and subsistence costs incurred by officers from Cleveland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and West Yorkshire, together with expenditure incurred for rental of premises and office expenses. A total of 3,162 witness statements and interviews have been taken since the inquiry began in November 1997. The Chief Constable informs me that the total costs could be broken down into the categories requested only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the costs to public funds of the suspension of officers during Operation Lancet; and if he will make a statement. [154925]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand from the Chief Constable of Cleveland police that the estimated costs of salaries and related costs up to 31 March 2001 in respect of the eight suspended officers is £870,600.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total costs of the involvement of Warwickshire police in the Lancet Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [154927]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand from the Chief Constable of Cleveland police that the total costs incurred to date by officers from Warwickshire Constabulary is £76,300.