§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost so far to the Exchequer of the arrest, confinement and protection of and legal proceedings relating to Senator Pinochet. [79345]
§ Mr. StrawI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 9 February 1999,Official Report, column 143.
For security reasons, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to provide information about police operations relating to protection. The Home Office allocated £200,000 to the Surrey police force to assist with the unexpected costs to the force of Senator Pinochet's residence in Wentworth.
On the cost so far of legal proceedings I understand that my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General will be answering a written question laid by my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar).