To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2007, Official Report, columns 911-2W, on departmental legal opinion, what the cost to the public purse was of external legal advice provided to special advisers in relation to the police investigation into allegations of cash for peerages. (181723)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) and the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 10 January 2008, Official Report, columns 755-6W. To protect the privacy of the individuals involved, it would not be appropriate to provide further breakdown of the costs.