§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry, indicating how much has been spent on legal advice and from whom it was obtained. [14529]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe amount spent by my Department on external advice, including legal advice, in relation to individuals giving evidence to the Scott inquiry and the preparation of the Government's response to it is £216,117; this consists entirely of legal advice. This figure includes £196,555 representing the value of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's department. External legal advice was obtained by individual MOD witnesses from Lovell, White, Durrant and Peter Carter-Ruck and Partners.
§ Mr. CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of salaries since 1992 paid to persons in his Department employed on a part-time or full-time basis in any capacity relating to the Scott inquiry. [14528]
685W
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe direct salary cost of officials within my Department wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry since 1992 was approximately £255,000. Other officials were inevitably involved from time to time; their direct salary cost is unquantifiable.