HC Deb 11 April 2002 vol 383 cc512-3W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cases have been brought against her Department under the Human Rights Act 1998; and what has been the cost to public funds to date in (a) legal fees to defend cases and (b) compensation payments. [45093]

Dr. Howells

Human rights are now integrated in the general law and are rarely the sole basis for a challenge. The department is involved in comparatively little litigation. However, it has been involved to date in three cases where proceedings have been brought which raise issues under the Human Rights Act 1998. It is often difficult to attribute costs specifically to the human rights aspects of cases, so it is not possible to give an aggregate figure for legal costs defending human rights points. The department has not to date made any compensation payment associated with a Human Rights Act case.