Departmental Legal Opinion

Mr. Francois
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what hourly rate his Department has agreed for the payment of Jonathan Sumption QC in relation to his work for the Department on the legal proceedings brought by Mr. Stuart Wheeler.

Meg Munn
[holding answer 2 June 2008]: The Government always ensure that they are represented at the appropriate level and secure an hourly rate which represents value for money for the tax payer. The Government are very confident of the strength of their case and, in responding to this action, will apply to recover its costs from the applicant.