§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the cost of court postponements caused by the prison disturbances.
Earl FerrersCosts have been incurred, and will for some time continue to be incurred, as a result of the prison disturbances, in that time has been lost in both the Crown Court and magistrates' courts through the unavailability of defendants, and additional legal aid has been incurred in connection with adjourned hearings, as have witnesses' and other court-related expenses. The information necessary to support an estimate of the total of such costs could not readily be obtained without disproportionate cost.