§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when(a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81762]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Department does use Queen's Counsel in the conduct of its litigation. They are used for important and complex cases. For the remaining cases the Department's position would be as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 26 April 1999,Official Report, columns 1–2. Approval for off panel counsel is sought from the Attorney-General as necessary.
Information on the number of occasions in the last three years on which the Department has instructed Queen' s Counsel could be provided only at disproportionate cost.