HC Deb 09 February 1977 vol 925 c683W
Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were the total costs of the recent inquiry by Lord Justice Scarman into the Red Lion Square demonstration;

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the names of individuals and groups who were represented at Lord Justice Scarman's inquiry into the Red Lion Square demonstration whose legal costs were paid out of public funds; and if he will list each group and individual separately, together with the amount of their costs.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The additional costs to public funds arising from the Red Lion Square inquiry amounted to £60,914.08. Details are given in the table below.

ADDITIONAL COSTS TO PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE RED LION SQUARE INQUIRY
Legal costs £
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 6,913.76
London Area Council of Liberation 9,563.77
International Marxist Group 8,227.06
Warwick University Students Union and the National Union of Students 9,582.22
National Front 6,270.54
Sub—Total £ 40,557.35
Counsel for the Inquiry 14,339.16
Administrative Costs (Printing, advertisements etc.) 5,940.48
Witnesses expenses 77.09
Total £60,914.08

The inquiry was held under the provisions of Section 32 of the Police Act 1964. At the conclusion of the hearing Lord Justice Scarman indicated that he would recommend to the Home Secretary that the reasonable taxed costs of all the represented parties should be met from the Police Fund. There is provision for the Home Secretary to direct that such costs should be paid from the police fund under Section 32(5) of the Police Act 1964.

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