Written question asked by Tony Colman (Labour) on Thursday, 11 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 January 2001. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Thursday, 18 January 2001 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much has been paid out to clients of the Public Trust Office in compensation for errors made in the six-month period to 1st December 2000; and what was the equivalent figure for the same six-month period in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Colman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been paid out to clients of the Public Trust Office in compensation for errors made in the six-month period to 1 December 2000; and what was the equivalent figure for the same six-month period in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [145679] Jane Kennedy: The Public Trust Office has paid out the following amounts in compensation for errors: in the six month period to 1 December 2000, £261,434, of which £223,879 was in respect of one case (concerning an error discovered in June 1998); in the six months to 1 December 1999, £46,118; in the six months to 1 December 1998, 60,192; and in the six months to 1 December 1997, £51,521. It should be noted that the errors to which these payments relate would have occurred in earlier periods.

Secondary information