Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter to the right hon. Member for North Durham on legal costs incurred during the Armoured Cavalry programme, which law firm those payments have been paid to.

The Ministry of Defence have paid for and used the services of the Government Legal Department and Slaughter and May.

The Armoured Cavalry programme will continue to seek legal advice as necessary to successfully deliver the programme, it is therefore expected that future costs will be incurred as necessary.