asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost to them of all the procedures associated with a death in custody, including the investigation by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, the inquest and any other follow-up action; and [HL3041]

What is the annual cost of legal representation of Her Majesty's Government at inquests into deaths in custody. [HL3042]

The estimated costs by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman for investigating fatal incidents in prisons, young offender institutions and approved premises was £2.8 million in 2006-07. The costs of individual death in custody investigations vary widely.

Funding for coroners is provided by individual local authorities and there are no figures available centrally for the overall costs of inquests, which could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Learning from deaths in custody is a key part of the Prison Service suicide prevention strategy, and includes consideration of prison and probation investigation reports, inquest verdicts and Coroners Rule 43 reports. The follow-up action taken in respect of every death in custody will vary from case to case, and it is not possible to allocate specific costs to this action. The independently chaired forum for deaths in custody was set up in 2005 to learn lessons and effect change to prevent deaths in custody. It is made up of senior representatives of all custody providers, their respective oversight and inspectorate bodies, and other government and non-government experts and practitioners in the field. The estimated costs of running the forum are £60,000 per year.

Inquests into deaths in custody are inquisitorial fact-finding processes, heard by a coroner with a jury. Currently available costs information is only in respect of the costs of Prison Service legal representation. HM Prison Service's legal costs since April 2004 are provided in the table below. They include the costs of the Treasury Solicitor, counsel's fees and other disbursements.