Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 July 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 4 September 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Bird and Bird Solicitors

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts were awarded by her Department to Bird and Bird Solicitors in each year since 1997; what the (a) value and (b) duration of each such contract was; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Bird and Bird have only been appointed on one contract by the Department which was to provide legal advice for the digital television project for NHS Direct.The expenditure by the Department on this contract is commercially confidential. The contract commenced in January 2003 and was completed in June 2006. The Department's current financial system does not hold information for years prior to 2004, and could not obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Secondary information