PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Attorney General: Legal Costs (9 March 2016)

To ask the Attorney General, what the cost to the public purse of legal proceedings involving actions taken by the Government against (a) devolved administrations, (b) local government in England and (c) non-departmental public bodies has been in each of the last six years.

Asked by:
Stephen Doughty (Labour)

The Government Legal Department (GLD) conducts litigation for most government departments. GLD charges its government department clients for the litigation services it provides on an hourly fee basis. The Solicitor’s Office of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) conduct litigation for HMRC.

(a) In the last 6 years there have been three cases where the Government has taken action against devolved administrations. The costs to the UK government in these cases was approximately £180,000.

(b) Neither GLD nor HMRC have centralised records that enable identification of the cost of litigation taken against Local Authorities. Carrying out a manual review of the stock of thousands of cases, would exceed the cost limit.

(c) Similarly, there is no central record which would enable the identification of cases against non – departmental public bodies.

Answered by:
Sir Robert Buckland (Conservative)
14 March 2016