§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the(a) Ashworth high security hospital and (b) Victoria Climbié inquiries was. [48029]
§ Jacqui SmithThe direct cost to the Department of the inquiry into the personality disorder unit at Ashworth high security hospital was £2.3 million. This does not include the costs incurred by other statutory bodies involved in the inquiry, for example Ashworth hospital itself.
The Victoria Climbié inquiry is ongoing and final costs will not be known until the end of the year.