Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Monday, 28 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what criteria were used in deciding to engage Professor Christopher Greenwood as an adviser on considering the legality of military action against Iraq in 2003.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor General what criteria were used in deciding to engage Professor Christopher Greenwood as an adviser on considering the legality of military action against Iraq in 2003. [224469] The Solicitor-General: As my right hon. Friend the Attorney General said in reply to Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 21 March 2005, Official Report, column WA3, and as I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent on 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1639W, Professor Greenwood was not instructed to advise on whether the war in Iraq would be lawful. The answer given by my right hon. Friend the Attorney General on 21 March set out the fees paid to Professor Greenwood for the assistance he has provided between March 2003 and March 2005 in relation to a variety of different legal issues arising from the Iraq conflict. Christopher Greenwood QC was instructed in relation to these issues because he is a highly regarded professor of international law and advocate who has advised the Government on issues of international law on many occasions, including in relation to cases in both domestic and international courts.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1225W; 224469
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Armed conflict Consultants Attorney General Fees and charges Iraq Legal opinion International law Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk