§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Attorney-General if he will now give the estimated sum that will be paid in total in all matters involving the Government's total legal action in the United Kingdom and abroad regarding the "Spycatcher" case, including travelling and all other related expenses.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt will not be possible to estimate the eventual total costs for some time, as several bills have not yet been submitted to the Government, but the figure of £1,019,000 given in a written answer to a question by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 19 October, is likely to increase substantially.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his reply of 19 October,Official Report, column 853, if he will provide a convenient analysis of the £1,019,000 cost to public funds of efforts made by Her Majesty's Government in respect of legal actions against the book "Spycatcher".
7W
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe breakdown of costs is as follows:
Civil Proceedings Breach of Confidence Legal fees Travelling and subsistence Total Australia 559,862 77,078 636,940 New Zealand 157,428 15,786 173,214 Hong Kong — — 77,716 England and Wales — — 70,171 Legal advice received from other countries 60,769 1,018,810