HC Deb 16 April 1993 vol 222 cc739-40W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if the costs of legal and other advisers attending the Scott inquiry will be covered by the resources made available by Her Majesty's Government to support Lord Justice Scott's investigation;

(2) what criteria will govern the repayment of costs for witnesses at the Scott inquiry; and what expenses will be regarded as reasonable.

The Prime Minister

The inquiry will meet the expenses of a witness or adviser necessarily incurred in attending to give evidence to the inquiry. Legal costs will be met by the inquiry if Lord Justice Scott decides that they were necessary in the interests of justice. They will be assessed by the costs branch of the Treasury Solicitor's Department on the standard basis (as defined in order 62, r.12(1) of the rules of the Supreme Court). The legal costs of Government witnesses or advisers will be met by the Department in which they were serving at the relevant time.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting held between the Cabinet Secretary and Lord Justice Scott on 12 February.

The Prime Minister

No. The Cabinet Secretary and Lord Justice Scott discussed the procedures which Lord Justice Scott will adopt during the course of his inquiry and that discussion was reflected in the notes of procedures published by Lord Justice Scott on 31 March 1993.