Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has incurred in costs for legal advice and representations at inquests following the deaths of serving prisoners in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

The principal costs which the Ministry of Justice incurs for legal advice and representations at inquests following the deaths of serving prisoners are those charged by the Government Legal Department. These costs for the financial year 2009/10 to 2013/14 are set out in the table below. They relate to preparatory work in advance of inquests as well as representation at specified inquests in each year in question.