asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to investigate the decision-making process by which the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation received legal aid funding; and [HL975]

Whether the legal aid funding of the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation was an appropriate use of public money; and [HL977]

Whether the payment of legal aid fees in excess of £1 million in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation to Augustus Ullstein QC, Simeon Maskey QC and Jeremy Stuart-Smith QC was an appropriate use of public money. [HL978]

Decisions about funding in civil cases are entirely a matter for the Legal Services Commission (LSC). As such, Ministers do not intervene in or comment on decisions made about the grant of funding in individual cases. The LSC makes individual funding decisions in accordance with the governing legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Legal Services Commission, in accordance with its press statement of 1 October 2003, has sent to the Medical Research Council research paid for by legal aid in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation. [HL976]

The Legal Services Commission has not sent the research in the MMR/MR vaccines litigation to the Medical Research Council (MRC). It was proposed to release the research to the MRC. However this can only be disclosed with the consent of the clients, or the solicitors acting on their behalf. I understand that such consent has not so far been forthcoming.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to recover fees paid for research funded by legal aid in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation. [HL979]

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has no plans to recover legal aid fees paid for research in the MMR/MR vaccine litigation.