HC Deb 31 January 1997 vol 289 cc378-80W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Sri Lankan asylum—Ravichandran and Sandralingham, in April 1996. [13481]

Mr. Kirkhope

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The available information is that, to date, the total legal costs incurred by the Home Office in the cases referred to amount to just over £24,000. This includes the hearing in April 1996 and other legal challenges in this case. At the hearing in April 1996 the appellants were awarded half the costs of the case, but the solicitors have not so far sought to enforce that order.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Al Fayed nationality—Mohammed al Fayed and Ali Fayed, in May 1995. [13477]

Mr. Kirkhope

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Up to 28 January 1997, the Home Office's legal costs were £58,174.78. Details of internal Home Office administrative and other costs are not available as they have not been recorded separately. Details of the costs awarded against the Home Office have not yet been received, but would be payable only in the event of our appeal to the House of Lords being unsuccessful.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Director General of Prison Service dismissal—Derek Lewis, in May 1996. [13483]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs incurred by the Department amounted to £16,428.95, excluding the costs of permanent Home Office staff. The sum to be paid to Mr. Lewis's legal representatives in respect of his costs has been settled at £41,000 in total.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: granting of High Court appeal—Kenneth Richardson in October 1985. [13479]

Mr. Kirkhope

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Legal costs to the Home Department of Mr. Richardson's judicial review proceedings were in the sum of £8,731.58. Pursuant to the order in 1995 of the divisional court, an additional sum of £5,000 towards Mr. Richardson's costs has been paid to his solicitors. I understand that they are in touch with the Treasury Solicitor about any balance still to be paid.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Kashmiri students' sentencing-Quayyum Raja and Mohammed Riaz in November 1994. [13475]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The answer is (a) £4,359 in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor and (b) £15,731.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: prisoners' release for access to lawyer-Wallace Smith, in January 1995. [13476]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Mr. Smith discontinued this action. Home Office legal expenses totalled £1,699.64 and £7,500 was paid towards Mr. Smith's legal costs.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Rev. Moon immigration—Rev. Sun Myung Moon, in November 1995. [13480]

Mr. Kirkhope

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The information requested is (a) £12,813.97 and (b) £8,250.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Bulger sentencing—Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, in May 1996. [13482]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs paid so far total £36,991 in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor. The final decision on the apportionment of costs awaits the outcome of the case, which is still before the courts.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: IRA parole-Paul Norney, Stephen Nordone, Brendan Dowd, Sean Kinsella and Noel Gibson, in September 1995. [13478]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs paid so far total £20,522, in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor. The issue of costs awarded against the Secretary of State has not yet been settled.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the criminal injuries compensation case-ex parte Fire Brigades Union, in November 1994. [13474]

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The total costs incurred by the Home Office in this case, which started in the High Court in March 1994 and concluded in the House of Lords in April 1995, were £103,338.77. This includes the respondent's bills of costs totalling £36,025.40.