MG Rover inquiry bill tops £11m

The inquiry was launched after MG Rover collapsed in April 2005

A government inquiry into the failure of MG Rover has so far cost £11m, it has been revealed.

The investigation into the Birmingham-based car maker was ordered after the firm collapsed in April 2005, with the loss of 6,000 jobs.

Enterprise Minister Stephen Timms told the House of Commons that in addition to the total cost, disbursements of £425,596 had also been paid.

Mr Timms said he did not know when the inquiry report would be published.

He said costs as of December 31 came to a total of £10,730,194, with further "disbursements" of £425,596.

Mr Timms was responding on Tuesday to a written parliamentary question by the Great Grimsby Labour MP Austin Mitchell.

The inquiry, which is still ongoing, was started in January 2006.

The government called in fraud and insolvency specialists to help the official inquiry into the failure of the firm.

MG Rover was bought by Nanjing Automobile Corporation in July 2005.