§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Legal Adviser's Branch; [48489]
(2)how many members of staff are employed by the Legal Adviser's Branch; [48488]
(3)what the cost of the Legal Adviser's Branch was in the last 12 months; [48490]
(4)when the Legal Adviser's Branch was established. [48491]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe first permanent Home Office Counsel was appointed in 1835 but the current Legal Adviser's Branch (LAB) can be said to date from the appointment, in 1869, of the first Assistant Under-Secretary (Legal). LAB provides specific legal services to other parts of the Home Office, and a similar service to the Northern Ireland Office. The cost of LAB in the last 12 months was £2.76 million. As at 31 March 2002 there were 57 members of staff employed.