§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Attorney-General what use his Department has made of private detectives in each of the last five years; at what cost; and if he will list the firms involved.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe records of the legal secretariat to the Law Officers, the Crown prosecution service and the Serious Fraud Office do not disclose any use of inquiry agents in the last five years. The litigation division of the Treasury Solicitor's Department makes frequent use of inquiry agents to ascertain the addresses of parties against whom court proceedings are to be issued, and as process servers. It would not be possible to ascertain the exact level of use or cost, or the names of all firms involved without disproportionate expense. However, the cost for each case usually does not exceed £100.