HC Deb 18 January 1996 vol 269 c689W
Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total cost of salaries since 1992 paid to persons in his Department employed on a part-time or full-time basis in any connection whatsoever in relation to the Scott inquiry. [10214]

Mr. Hanley

The direct salary cost of officials within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry since 1992 is approximately £197,627.00. Other officials will inevitably be involved from time to time; their direct salary cost is unquantifiable.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has(a) read, collated or received and (b) authorised civil servants or any other persons to read, collate or receive copies of draft sections of Sir Richard Scott's report circulated by Sir Richard Scott to Government Ministers, civil servants and other persons. [10216]

Mr. Hanley

The handling of extracts of Sir Richard's draft report, subject to the wishes of the inquiry, is at the discretion of those to whom they are sent. The Government do not disclose details of correspondence between the inquiry and individual witnesses.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry; and how much has been spent on legal advice and for whom. [10215]

Mr. Hanley

The amount so far spent by my Department on external advice in relation to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is £318,165.46. The names of the individuals and their legal advisers are confidential to them.