Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-03-17.

To ask the Attorney General, what the total cost to his Department has been of challenging the decision of the Information Commissioner on the publication of letters from HRH the Prince of Wales.

Dominic Grieve

This case raises issues of constitutional significance, including upholding Parliament’s intentions for the Freedom of Information regime and the Government’s ability to protect information in the public interest. Litigation initiated by The Guardian newspaper has taken place over a four year period including hearings in the Upper Tribunal, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. Eight government departments have had to work together on the Government’s response, at a total cost of £274,481.16 (exc VAT). These costs encompass all costs billed by the Treasury Solicitor, including Counsels’ fees and disbursements. If we are successful in the next stage of legal proceedings the Government would seek to recover a substantial proportion of these costs from the Guardian.