§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the legal action being taken by him concerning allegations made in the Daily Mail on 19 March; and what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of this action. [154953]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 22 March 2001]I have engaged the solicitors Goodman Derrick to act on my behalf in response to theDaily Mail allegations made on 19 March. These allegations relate entirely to my conduct as Secretary of State of Trade and Industry. In line with Treasury advice published in response to a Public Accounts Committee Report in 1993 which states that
it is appropriate to use public resources to deal with matters arising in the course of, or as a direct result of, the officials duties of Ministers and civil servants", the reasonable costs of my present action will be funded publicly.