<p>The Department for Work and Pensions does not retain financial data by Parliament or parliamentary Session.</p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions' litigation function transferred to the Treasury Solicitor's Department on 18 March 2013. In the period from 18 March 2013 to date the Department for Work and Pensions has incurred £245,713 in external fees and disbursements relating to appeals which the Department has brought or is defending. This sum is inclusive of VAT where applicable.</p><p>The Department's records of legal spend prior to 18 March 2013 do not distinguish between the stage of legal proceedings in respect of which each invoice for</p><p>legal representation is paid. Disaggregating the data would take the cost of responding to the question over the disproportionate cost threshold.</p><p>The Department does not hold comprehensive data for the cost of internal staff time spent dealing with appeals.</p>