§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of the United Kingdom's participation in the work of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice over the past three years for which figures are available. [14007]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorI refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 30 October 1995,Official Report, column 12, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 7 November 1995, Official Report, column 697.
These provide costs to public funds relating to decisions of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights over a two year period from October 1993 to October 1995. These costs include counsels' fees, costs and damages. Wider costs, if any, arising from a particular decision are a matter for the relevant departmental Minister.
The cost to public funds in respect of ECHR judgments for which figures are available including the remaining periods—February to October 1993 and October 1995 to February 1996—is £484,018.90.
On costs to pubic funds for European Court of Justice judgments, and European Court of Human Rights counsels' fees for the two periods above, I shall write to the hon. Member.