Monday 25th March 2024

(8 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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The hon. and learned Lady will know about legal matters. I do not think that I can accept that the litigation, particularly in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, is just not relevant, especially as it pertained to the matters under debate.

Justin Madders Portrait Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)
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As the Secretary of State rightly pointed out, this report has been five years in the offing. His Department has known that it was coming for an awful long time. It must also have known that it was possible that compensation would be recommended. I am sure that he runs his Department in a prudent fashion, and will have set aside contingency funding for that eventuality. Can he tell us how much?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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Once again, the hon. Gentleman is trying to draw me into forming conclusions prematurely about a complex report that needs a great deal of study and consideration. That is what we will give it.