§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General what have been the costs incurred by Her Majesty's Government in dealing with all aspects of the Lorrain Osman case.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked to reply.
The costs fall into three general categories. First, there is the cost of his detention, on which I would refer the hon. Member to the other reply given to him today on this matter. Secondly there are the legal costs incurred in the proceedings in the United Kingdom against Mr. Osman, and in respect of his subsequent appeals. Up to his committal, such costs fell to the Hong Kong Government. Costs identified so far in the first of Mr. Osman's habeas corpus applications amount to over £20,000. Costs incurred in the second and third habeas corpus applications were awarded against Mr. Osman. Finally there are the administrative costs incurred by Ministers and officials in dealing with the case, answering correspondence, parliamentary questions, and so on. These arise from the normal duties of the people concerned and cannot be calculated separately.