HC Deb 15 March 2001 vol 364 c705W
Mr. David Taylor

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the role of the Treasury Solicitor's Department in the Factortame litigation. [154271]

The Solicitor-General

The Factortame litigation involved a claim for damages against the UK Government as a result of the 1996 ruling of the European Court of Justice that those affected by the removal of vessels from the UK fishing vessel register in 1989 under the Merchant Shipping Act 1998 had been discriminated against on the grounds of nationality, contrary to EC law.

The Government have reached a settlement with all 133 claimants. The total amount claimed was £285 million excluding interest. The cases were all settled for a total sum of damages of £44.99 million, including £20.19 million in interest.

His Honour Judge J. K. Toulmin CMG QC made the following observations in open court: I think a special word should go to Jonathan Morris and his team because they have had the carriage of the administration of a large part of the action and they have done so in a way, so far, which has really been extraordinarily impressive, and I wanted to put that on the record now. The Treasury Solicitor, that is Jonathan Morris and his team, are the ones who have understood what the whole picture is and they are the ones who have therefore been in the position where they have had to deal with everybody else, and indeed to assist the Court in a way that is entirely neutral…I see nods from other parties represented on the front row, so they understand precisely the sense in which I am making this comment.