To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) cost and (b) purpose of legal representation and advice sought by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies was in each year since May 1997. (300329)

The Department for International Development uses a number of sources of legal expertise in both the UK and overseas. Records are available for full expenditure only from 2003-04. DFID does not maintain central records of the purpose of each piece of legal representation and advice.