£39k legal bill forMSM blood policy
The Department of Health has spent £39,100 on legal advice to help inform its policy on blood donations by men who have had sex with men.
Health Minister Jim Wells confirmed that £29,200 has been spent on Counsel costs; £9,400 has been spent on the departmental solicitors office legal staff; and £500 has been spent on swear fees, data dispatch, appeal stamp and order fees.
He stated: “The Department has appealed the judgement in this legal case and any future costs will be in respect of the appeal. However, these costs are not yet known.”