The highest hourly rate paid by the Department for International Trade for external legal advice in 2018 was £816ph. This was for a piece of urgent foreign law advice for which it was not possible to use the usual Government Legal Services Panels. The advice was subject to an overall fee cap and only 4.4 hours was charged at the £816 hourly rate.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department for International Trade does not currently have any arms-length bodies.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4016", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir George Hollingbery"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meon Valley"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Hollingbery"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-25T16:24:02.953Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for International Trade: Legal Costs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"} ], "uin" : "209810"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043055", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043055/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department consists of the central Department and four executive Agencies as follows:<\/p>
<\/p>
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)<\/p>
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)<\/p>
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)<\/p>
Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> The highest hourly rate that the Department paid for legal advice in 2018 is £640.00.<\/p> <\/p> The highest hour rate that each of the Department\u2019s arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018 as follows:<\/p> Highways England<\/p><\/td> £360.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Transport Focus<\/p><\/td> £350.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> British Transport Police Authority<\/p><\/td> £400.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Northern Lighthouse Board<\/p><\/td> £250.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Trinity House Lighthouse Service<\/p><\/td> £400.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> High Speed 2 Ltd<\/p><\/td> £446.74<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Network Rail<\/p><\/td> £690.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-25T13:42:38.31Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Transport: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "209811"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043056", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043056/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not in the public domain due to it being commercially sensitive and should not be disclosed. If disclosed it would be likely to impact the commercial interests of the Department and arms-length bodies, and the ability to obtain goods and services on the best possible commercial terms.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-23T10:16:05.597Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) her Department and (b) each of her Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "209812"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043057", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043057/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government Legal Department (GLD) provides almost all of the Department\u2019s legal services. The largest components are for general advisory and commercial advisory work. The Department pays for both of these on a fixed fee basis, and therefore hourly rates are not applicable for these areas of legal work.<\/p> Hourly rates do apply where employment advisory and litigation work is provided by the GLD. In 2018, the highest hourly rate paid for such legal services was £180 for a Queen\u2019s Counsel.<\/p> It is only where specific legal advice is required that specialist firms of solicitors provide services for the Department, and these are engaged with the guidance of the GLD.<\/p> The Department\u2019s arm\u2019s length bodies (ALBs) each have their own arrangements for securing legal services. The following table sets out the highest hourly rates for legal services in 2018 that ALBs paid.<\/p> Name<\/p><\/td> Amount<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Care Quality Commission<\/p><\/td> £280<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Health Education England<\/p><\/td> £250<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Health Research Authority<\/p><\/td> £200<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority<\/p><\/td> £350<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency<\/p><\/td> £180<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Blood and Transplant<\/p><\/td> £200<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Business Services Authority<\/p><\/td> £145<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Counter Fraud Authority<\/p><\/td> £228<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Digital<\/p><\/td> £280<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Improvement<\/p><\/td> £250<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NHS Resolution<\/p><\/td> £250<\/p><\/td><\/tr> National Institute for Health and Care Excellence<\/p><\/td> £200<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Public Health England<\/p><\/td> £222<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> The Department and two of its bodies, NHS England and the Human Tissue Authority, have engaged legal services from organisations other than the GLD. It has not been possible in these instances to provide the information requested as it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-25T14:18:27.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "209813"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043058", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043058/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The highest hourly rate paid for legal advice by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was £ <\/p> The highest hourly rate paid for legal advice by the MOD\u2019s arms length bodies is:<\/p> <\/p> Name of Arms Length Body<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Highest Rate<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Defence Electronics and Components Agency<\/p><\/td> £295<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Defence Science and Technology Laboratory<\/p><\/td> £148<\/p><\/td><\/tr> National Army Museum<\/p><\/td> £550<\/p><\/td><\/tr> National Museum of the Royal Navy<\/p><\/td> £580<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Oil and Pipelines<\/p><\/td> £250<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Royal Air Force Museum<\/p><\/td> £280<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Royal Hospital Chelsea<\/p><\/td> £530<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Single Source Regulations Office<\/p><\/td> £450<\/p><\/td><\/tr> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office<\/p><\/td> £675<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043058/answer/previousversion/97151", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-24T16:35:44.157Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-28T17:00:18.367Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ministry of Defence: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the highest hourly rate paid for legal advice was by (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms length bodies in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "209814"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043059", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043059/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " a. Main Department<\/strong><\/p> The highest hourly rate that the main Department paid for legal advice in 2018 was £165 excluding VAT. Where the Department has sought advice from counsel, Attorney General\u2019s Office rates will apply. For external legal firms on the General Legal Advice Services (GLAS) panel, rates are agreed under the framework.<\/p> <\/p> b. Arm\u2019s Length Bodies (ALBs)<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> ALBs<\/strong><\/p><\/td> ALB\u2019s Highest Hourly Rate 2018 Legal Advise (ex-VAT)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> ARB (Architects Registration Board)<\/p><\/td> Commercially sensitive<\/p><\/td><\/tr> BRAC (Building Advisory Committee)<\/p><\/td> NIL. Not Applicable<\/p><\/td><\/tr> EDC (Ebbsfleet Development Corporation)<\/p><\/td> £250<\/p><\/td><\/tr> HE (Homes England)<\/p><\/td> Commercially sensitive<\/p><\/td><\/tr> LEASE (Leasehold Advisory Service)<\/p><\/td> NIL paid<\/p><\/td><\/tr> LGSCO (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman)<\/p><\/td> £190<\/p><\/td><\/tr> PINS (The Planning Inspectorate)<\/p><\/td> £123<\/p><\/td><\/tr> QEIIC (Queen Elizabeth II Centre)<\/p><\/td> £445<\/p><\/td><\/tr> VTS (Valuation Tribunal Service)<\/p><\/td> £164<\/p><\/td><\/tr> RSH (Regulator of Social Housing)<\/p><\/td> Commercially sensitive<\/p><\/td><\/tr> THO (The Housing Ombudsman)<\/p><\/td> £260<\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Three of our Arms\u2013Length Bodies (ALB) did not disclose a figure due to commercial sensitivities. The highest hourly rate was that for the QEIIC who were engaged to provide specialist commercial advice on employment legislation. The rate quoted was for the Director who was only engaged for part of the project. The differences in hourly rates across the other ALBs reflects the degree of specialisms.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4060", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jake Berry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rossendale and Darwen"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jake Berry"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-30T17:46:46.867Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Legal Costs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "209815"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043063", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1043063/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Northern Ireland Office uses legal services from a variety of providers, however the information requested is not separately recorded. To provide this information would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p> The Northern Ireland Office has three executive non-departmental public bodies \u2013 the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Independent Reporting Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body \u2013 the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As these bodies are independent of Government, the hon Member may wish to write to the Commissions directly on these matters \u2013 contact details are set out below:<\/p>580.<\/del>597.<\/ins><\/p>