Honours: Criminal Investigation

Mr. Maude
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008, Official Report, columns 755-56W, on honours: criminal investigation, and with reference to the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, which lawyers were commissioned to provide external legal advice.

Edward Miliband
The law firms commissioned to provide external legal advice were Eversheds LLP, Peters & Peters, and Russell Jones & Walker.

Mr. Maude
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008, Official Report, columns 755-56W, on Honours: Criminal Investigation, and with reference to the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, what the cost was to the public purse of the external legal advice and support for the right hon. Tony Blair.

Edward Miliband
The right hon. Tony Blair received no external legal advice and support. Therefore there was no cost to the public purse.