§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Prime Minister how many(a) public and (b) judicial inquiries the Government have set up into events which took place (i) before and (ii) after May 1997; and how much they have so far cost. [117933]
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§ The Prime MinisterSince May 1997 two inquiries have been established under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921: the Bloody Sunday Inquiry (1998) under Lord Saville and the Shipman Inquiry (2000) under Dame Janet Smith DBE. The latest available costs are £107.6 million and £11.75 million respectively.
There have been a number of inquiries of different forms established since May 1997 either under other statutory provisions or on an ad hoc, non-statutory basis, dealing with events both before and after 1997. Examples include:
The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (established 1997), under Sir William McPherson;The BSE Inquiry (1997), under Lord Phillips;The Ladbroke Grove Inquiry (1999) under Lord Cullen;The Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry (1999) under Mr. Michael Redfern QC.There have also been a large number of other inquiries under various statutes, for example planning inquiries, inquiries into road schemes and inquiries into local health service issues.A comprehensive list of all inquiries and their costs is not maintained centrally.