§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of legal fees incurred by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the armed services pregnancy dismissal cases defended by his Department in respect of legal advice and work, separately identifying advocacy provided by lawyers in private practice; and what was the average(a) daily and (b) hourly rate contracted for the advice and work. [851]
§ Mr. SoamesThe total cost of legal fees to date in the armed forces pregnancy dismissal litigation, including disbursements and VAT, is £6.8 million, the majority of which—£6.3 million—has been paid to the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Barristers in private practice have been used as advocates in the 360 cases which have proceeded to an industrial tribunal—7 per cent., of all cases—but their fees cannot be separately identified in the overall figure of £1.9 million, including VAT, which the Treasury Solicitor's Department has disbursed in respect of counsel's fees. It is not possible to calculate a meaningful average daily or hourly rate for the variety of advice given and work done.