HC Deb 08 May 2001 vol 368 c52W
35. Mr. Cohen

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to place a maximum ceiling on the costs to public funds of trial proceedings. [159324]

Mr. Lock

This Government have taken considerable steps to ensure that trial costs, including lawyers' fees, are held at a reasonable level. It would not be right to place an arbitrary cap on the amount to be spent on any individual trial.