Frederick West

HC Deb 28 July 1997 vol 299 cc11-2W

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the estate of the late Frederick West is now solvent. [10136]

Mr. Hoon

The Government have no involvement with the West estate. The Official Solicitor, who is independent of the Government, has been appointed as administrator of the West estate by the court. Like any other administrator, he is accountable only to the court and, through the court, to the beneficiaries. The distribution of The table shows the current rates and the rates uprated by inflation and by the increase in public administration earnings.

the estate and any income derived from it is a matter of law. Any questions on the estate should be addressed to the Official Solicitor.