Last year we used the services of legal agents in about 260 cases. We follow a policy that sets out how and for what type of case we should turn to outside legal agents. It often happens if a dispute prevents our department from acting, for example. Normally the Department of Justice is responsible for providing legal services for the government, but in some cases that is not possible.
Sometimes there is no dispute, but the case requires special expertise not available within the department. There may also be geographic considerations. We have lawyers throughout the country, but sometimes we may not have a lawyer in a region where the services are required. For the moment I am talking about civil cases, not criminal matters, which come under the responsibility of my colleague, Mr. Saunders.