Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, whether the Government is involved in cases in which it might be ordered to pay damages in accordance with the European Court of Justice ruling in Francovich of 1991 in the event that it is defeated in such cases.

The Government does not maintain a central record of cases that include a claim for Francovich damages.

There have been at least 5 reported cases in which the Government has been ordered to pay such damages.

The Government has been able to identify at least 16 ongoing cases against it which involve a claim for Francovich damages. The fact that such a claim has been made does not mean that it is well-founded, or that damages will be payable.