Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which fees (a) have been paid and (b) are due to be paid to Tim Mould QC for work relating to High Speed 2.

The Department has appointed a team of solicitors, Parliamentary Agents and barristers to support the HS2 project. Tim Mould QC is primarily employed to support the HS2 hybrid Bill process which gives those affected by HS2 an opportunity to present their concerns in Parliament. Since 2013 the Department for Transport has paid £679,567.10 to Tim Mould QC to support the HS2 project on Bill related matters. This figure is correct to 19 July 2016 and is exclusive of VAT.

In addition, since approximately 2010, the Department has also instructed a number of barristers, including Tim Mould QC, on other HS2 related matters, primarily litigation. These barristers will have been remunerated at government hourly rates agreed with the Attorney General, but it would involve disproportionate cost for the Department to provide precise figures.

The use of barristers to support the HS2 project is demand led and so it is not possible to forecast the fees that may be paid to Tim Mould QC in the future.