Written question asked by Johnny Mercer (Conservative) on Friday, 17 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 March 2017 (named day). It was answered by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 March 2017 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Abu Jamal

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department's payments to Abu Jamal ceased in July 2016 when the instruction was given to stop such payments in April 2016.

Answer: The Iraq Historic Allegations Team made no payments to Abu Jamal after 9 March 2016, except for work which had already been agreed prior to that date. The then Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Penny Mordaunt) confirmed to the House on 18 April 2016 (Official Report, column 641) that no agent used by Leigh Day or Public Interest Lawyers would in future be paid from public money, on the grounds that it was not an acceptable use of public funds.

Secondary information