§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has made any contribution to the costs of any private prosecutions carried out on behalf of his Department.
§ Mr. RidleyIt is possible under the staff rules of my Department for financial assistance to be given in certain cases where a staff member has been injured by the wrongful act of a third party. But such assistance will be given only if it is considered that the prosecution is in the interest of both the staff member and the Department. There have been no such cases in recent years. I am not aware of other circumstance where the Department has contributed to private prosecutions.