§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Attorney-General 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. [14525]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe amount spent by my departments on external advice—all of it legal advice—in relation to giving evidence to the Scott inquiry and the preparation of the Government's response to the report is £56,526. Advice was obtained from Messrs Mishcon de Reya, solicitors, and from Jonathan Sumption QC, William Charles. Stephen Richards and Mark Howard of counsel.
§ Mr. CookTo ask the Attorney-General 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. [14524]
§ The Attorney-GeneralSeveral officials in my departments have been involved in matters relating to the Scott inquiry from time to time as part of their normal duties, but with the following exception the direct salary cost is unquantifiable. Two press officers were seconded to my office for short periods in 1996, the salary cost of about £2,300 being met by their home department.