Bearwood Corporate Services

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission from which (a) legal firms, (b) Queen's counsel and (c) other sources the Electoral Commission sought advice in connection with its investigation into Bearwood Corporate Services; and how much was paid for such advice in each case. (322506)

The Electoral Commission informs me that in addition to legal advice from its in-house Legal Counsel, it also obtained legal advice from Queens counsel, Michael Beloff QC and Andrew Mitchell QC; and from junior barristers, Jane Collier and Sarah Palin. Payments to Queen's counsel amounted to £61,000 and payments to junior counsel amounted to £20,000.