§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the heads under which the costs of a criminal trial are recorded by her Department. [83989]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 17 May 1999]: "Counsels' Fees" and "Payments to Witnesses" are recorded under those heads. Other costs are not recorded under specific heads.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years her Department has been asked for the cost of specific criminal trials; and if she will list the trials, indicating those in respect of which information has been refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost. [83990]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 17 May 1999]: Once. On 31 October 1994, Official Report, column 923, in answer to the hon. Member for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley), the then Secretary of State replied that information about the cost to the State of the arrest, prosecution and appeal of Messrs, Latimer, Bell, Allen and Hegan was not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.