Written question asked by David Marshall (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 December 2003. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Thursday, 11 December 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total value is of the compensation paid by the Libyan Government to the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing; whether payments to solicitors acting for families of the Lockerbie victims were paid under contingency fee agreements for percentage payments; if he will make a statement on the level of fees charged by solicitors in the Lockerbie case; and what action he is taking to limit such fees; To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that the families of the Lockerbie victims receive the highest possible proportion compensation payments made. - Including figures.

Answer: Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the total value is of the compensation paid by the Libyan Government to the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing; [143005] (2) whether payments to solicitors acting for families of the Lockerbie victims were paid under contingency fee agreements for percentage payments; [143006] (3) if he will make a statement on the level of fees charged by solicitors in the Lockerbie case; and what action he is taking to limit such fees; [143007] (4) what steps he is taking to ensure that the families of the Lockerbie victims receive the highest possible proportion of compensation payments made. [143008] Mr. Rammell: Libya has agreed to pay $10 million per family in compensation for the Lockerbie bombing, payable in three tranches of $4 million, $4 million and $2 million on, respectively, lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, lifting of US bilateral sanctions against Libya, and removal of Libya from the United States' list of States involved in terrorism. The Government is not privy to the fee arrangements made between solicitors and their clients in the Lockerbie case and has no standing in this issue. The question of the level of fees charged by solicitors is entirely a matter for them and their clients.

Secondary information