The Law Officers\u2019 Convention requires that it is not generally disclosed outside Government whether I have been asked to provide advice or the contents of any such advice. This is a longstanding principle of Cabinet collective agreement which enables the Government of the day to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-15T11:43:40.903Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "International Law"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, whether she has agreed with Cabinet colleagues on the circumstances in which international law may supersede domestic legislation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/288", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir William Cash"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stone"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir William Cash"} ], "uin" : "18032"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694996", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694996/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the Hon Member to my response to UIN 17533<\/a> tabled on Wednesday 13 March 2024.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4589", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Courts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Courts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-14T13:20:17.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Attorney General: Domestic Visits"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1541", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Llanelli"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dame Nia Griffith"}
], "uin" : "17846"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694531", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694531/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Departments are responsible for procuring their own legal advice and may decide when and how to disclose that advice outside Government. However, advice provided by the Law Officers is subject to the Law Officers\u2019 Convention and may not be disclosed outside Government without the Law Officers\u2019 consent. This is a longstanding principle of Cabinet collective agreement.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4589", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Courts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Courts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-12T10:38:37.05Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Legal Opinion"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what guidance she has provided to Cabinet colleagues on when to publish (a) full and (b) summaries of legal advice.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1516", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andy Slaughter"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hammersmith"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andy Slaughter"}
], "uin" : "17531"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694541", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694541/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).<\/p> But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers\u2019 travel at home or abroad.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4589", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Courts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Courts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-13T11:21:12.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Attorney General: Domestic Visits"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, how many domestic overnight visits were undertaken by Ministers within her Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of these visits.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1541", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Llanelli"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dame Nia Griffith"}
], "uin" : "17533"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694549", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694549/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I cannot answer your question as to do so would be in breach of the Law Officers\u2019 Convention.<\/p> Paragraph 2.13 of the Ministerial Code clearly states that the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-12T17:39:23.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ministers: Defamation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions the Law Officers have been informed that ministers in other Government departments are the defendants in a libel action in (a) their personal capacity, (b) their official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"}
], "uin" : "17537"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694550", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694550/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In line with normal Government Legal Department charging arrangements, any costs in relation to this matter have been or will be borne by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4589", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Courts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Courts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-12T10:48:50.647Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, whether any costs were incurred by the Government Legal Department in relation to the libel action pursued by Professor Kate Sang against the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, following her letter of 23 October 2023 to UK Research and Innovation on that organisation's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion board.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"}
], "uin" : "17538"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694142", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694142/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There have been no incidents of money lost to fraud and error by the Attorney General\u2019s Office (AGO) in each of the last three financial years.<\/p> Information relating to detected fraud and error for the AGO is published in the HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Annual Reports and Accounts (HMPGTS Accounts). The HMPGTS Accounts for the financial years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 are available on GOV.UK at the following links: 2020-21<\/a>, 2021-22<\/a>, and 2022-23<\/a>. The HMPGTS Accounts contain information relating to the AGO, Government Legal Department, and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.<\/p> The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system. We have established the dedicated Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year, it delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits.<\/p> The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report which is available on GOV.UK: Cross-Government Fraud Landscape Annual Report 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>. This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss and recoveries in central government, outside of the tax and welfare system. The 2020-21 Report was published in March 2023.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4589", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Courts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Courts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-12T10:32:45.523Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Attorney General: Fraud and Maladministration"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by her Department in each of the last three financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1541", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Llanelli"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dame Nia Griffith"}
], "uin" : "17321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693767", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693767/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "