Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether financial assistance was given by the Government to Sir Mark Allen and the right hon. Jack Straw in relation to the conduct of their defences in the Belhaj case.
Yes. It is established practice that if legal action is instigated relating to Government decisions or actions when then Government will normally defend those who were acting on its behalf if they are separately named. This applies to serving ministers and civil servants as well as those who are no longer in office.