HL Deb 13 October 2003 vol 653 c95WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What judicial reviews were taken against public authorities in Northern Ireland in the past three years; which failed; and who paid the costs in each case. [HL4492]

Baroness Amos

Since the end of July 2000 the Crown Solicitor has received 576 applications for judicial review against UK departments and other public authorities in the excepted and reserved fields. There have been 120 applications against departments of the Northern Ireland administration and Ministers in the same period. There are no central records to indicate which of those applications were granted leave, were settled by agreement, were successful or unsuccessful, or in which costs were awarded to or against the applicants. It would put the Government to disproportionate cost to obtain the further details which the noble Lord seeks, including what judicial reviews were applied for against other public authorities for which the Crown Solicitor and the departmental solicitor do not act.