Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Legal Costs
(asked on 17th January 2019) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.
a. Main Department
The highest hourly rate that the main Department paid for legal advice in 2018 was £165 excluding VAT. Where the Department has sought advice from counsel, Attorney General’s Office rates will apply. For external legal firms on the General Legal Advice Services (GLAS) panel, rates are agreed under the framework.
b. Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs)
ALBs | ALB’s Highest Hourly Rate 2018 Legal Advise (ex-VAT) |
ARB (Architects Registration Board) | Commercially sensitive |
BRAC (Building Advisory Committee) | NIL. Not Applicable |
EDC (Ebbsfleet Development Corporation) | £250 |
HE (Homes England) | Commercially sensitive |
LEASE (Leasehold Advisory Service) | NIL paid |
LGSCO (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman) | £190 |
PINS (The Planning Inspectorate) | £123 |
QEIIC (Queen Elizabeth II Centre) | £445 |
VTS (Valuation Tribunal Service) | £164 |
RSH (Regulator of Social Housing) | Commercially sensitive |
THO (The Housing Ombudsman) | £260 |
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Three of our Arms–Length Bodies (ALB) did not disclose a figure due to commercial sensitivities. The highest hourly rate was that for the QEIIC who were engaged to provide specialist commercial advice on employment legislation. The rate quoted was for the Director who was only engaged for part of the project. The differences in hourly rates across the other ALBs reflects the degree of specialisms.