HC Deb 28 October 2003 vol 412 cc197-8W
Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the costs of the Saville Inquiry, broken down by the cost of(a) instructing solicitors, (b) instructing counsel, (c) inquiry accommodation, (d) travel and accommodation for (i) relatives of the victims and (ii) other witnesses and (e) other costs. [129905]

Mr. Spellar

Up to end August 2003 the cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was £119.7 million. The cash spend by the Northern Ireland Office on the Inquiry was a total of £94.6 million. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence advises me that his Department has spent £25.1 million. Breaking these down in the categories requested gives the following figures:

£000
NIO MOD
(a) Instructing Solicitors 24,160 7,300
(b) Instructing counsel 15,630 15,400
(c) Inquiry Accommodation 13,517 330
(d) Travel and Accommodation for
(i) relatives of the victims 467
(ii) other witnesses 32 44
(e) Other costs 1 40,801 2 2,100

1 Figure includes salary costs of Tribunal members (except Lord Saville) and Inquiry staff, IT equipment, expert witnesses, office services and security, telecommunications and other miscellaneous office expenditure.

2 For the MOD the figure includes Inquiry related staff and support costs, an MOD Police Investigation and other miscellaneous fees and expenses.

Totals may not be exact due to rounding.