HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 c251W
Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to public funds of the proceedings concerning Senator Pinochet since his arrest. [105494]

Mr. Townend

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of the detention of Senator Pinochet broken down into(a) legal, (b) security and (c) other costs. [105247]

Mr. Straw

Total costs will be estimated once the case is completed. The costs we are able to calculate at this stage total £1,322,326.83. The breakdown of this is as follows:

(a) Legal Costs Costs incurred to date by the Crown Prosecution Service

  • Counsel's fees: £353,000
  • Interpreter's fees: £4,200
  • Other cost (including Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) staff time, photocopying, etc): £238,000
Costs to Treasury Solicitors:
  • Amicus curiae (approximate costs and disbursements including counsel's fees: £70,000
  • Other costs and disbursements: £18,000
Costs incurred to date by the Home Office Counsel's fees:
  • £144,000 of which:
  • £38,110.29p is, subject to agreement or assessment by the court recoverable under costs orders made against Senator Pinochet by the Divisional Court.
  • Treasury Solicitors fees: £36,000
Costs incurred to date by the Lord Chancellor's Office
  • 1st hearing at the House of Lords: £270,935.89
  • Application to vacate at the House of Lords: £151,361.30
  • Hearing dealt with to date in the Divisional Court: £31,328.39

(b) Security Costs Police costs incurred in detaining Senator Pinochet are a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Chief Constable of Surrey.

(c) Other Costs Cost of Medical Examination: £5,501.25.

The figures exclude VAT, (which is payable in some but not all items).