Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 25 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 March 2000. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the direct and opportunity costs met by (a) witnesses to the BSE inquiry and (b) their employers; and what level of reimbursement for such costs has been made from public funds. - Including figure.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the direct and opportunity costs met by (a) witnesses to the BSE inquiry and (b) their employers; and what level of reimbursement for such costs has been made from public funds. [112439] Ms Quin: We are not in a position to estimate the direct and opportunity costs to witnesses or their employers of the Inquiry. Serving civil servants have participated in the Inquiry as part of their employment and relevant direct costs--travel and subsistence--are met from local budgets. Reimbursement from public funds of direct costs incurred by witnesses, who are no longer serving officials, in preparing and giving evidence to the Inquiry which have been paid by the Inquiry, MAFF, DH and other sponsoring departments, amounts to about £60,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 345 c720W; 112439
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Costs Witnesses Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease Inquiry
Contains statistics: Yes