Article: Scott legal advice could cost pounds 1m

THE taxpayer faces a bill for up to pounds 1m for private legal advice for ministers caught up in the Scott arms-to-Iraq inquiry.

At least one member of the Cabinet, the Minister of Agriculture, William Waldegrave, has already gone outside the government legal service for help, and four other ministers are thought to be similarly countenancing such advice.

Two ex-ministers could also avail themselves of the privilege, as well as an unknown number of civil servants.

The total could could run to hundreds of thousands of pounds, and one legal source said it could rise to pounds 1m.

Gerry Bermingham, Labour MP for St Helens's South, has tabled two parliamentary questions to John Major, asking ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!