§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the legal costs to date incurred by his Department and the Treasury Solicitor acting on behalf of the Medical Research Council, indicating separately disbursements and counsel fees, of the defence from claims brought against his Department and the Medical Research Council in respect of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease litigation. [5111]
§ Ms JowellIdentifiable legal costs to the Department of Health to date are approximately £500,000. These figures do not include the legal costs of the plaintiffs who were successful in their legal action in April-May 1996, since claims have not been received. Counsel costs are £320,000 and disbursements are £130,000.
In addition, numerous staff at various levels and for various periods of time have been involved in matters related to the litigation and their costs cannot be separately identified.
For the details of the costs incurred by the Treasury Solicitor on behalf of the Medical Research Council, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.