:: press release ::

Thursday June 05, 2008

PUBLIC INQUIRIES COSTING TAX PAYERS A FORTUNE 

Alastair Ross MLA has said that millions of pounds of tax-payers money is being spent on public inquiries every month. The figures come from an answer to a parliamentary question received from Party colleague Gregory Campbell MP.  
 

The answer from the Secretary of State showed that over the course of a six month period from October 2007 to March the cost of various inquiries.

-Robert Hamill Inquiry cost £2,705,350

-Rosemary Nelson Inquiry cost £5,698,636

-Billy Wright Inquiry cost £3,911,088

-Bloody Sunday Inquiry cost £2,355,549  
 

Commenting on the figures Mr Ross said,  
 

“With a series of mini-inquiries expected over the next few years it is no wonder that people are starting to question the merit in them. Millions of pounds worth of public money is poured into these inquiries every year.  
 

In addition to the financial cost there is also the strain on policing resources. People quite rightly want to see police officers on the front line rather than caught up in these inquiries. People also are asking what society actually achieves from upwards of £5 million a month on inquires into the dark past of this Province.”