By Mail On Sunday Reporter PUBLISHED: 19:14 EST, 9 November 2013 | UPDATED: 20:36 EST, 9 November 2013 Defence chiefs spent £28 million of taxpayers' cash last year on an army of private lawyers to fight legal claims against the military. The rise of human rights legislation and the number of cases being brought means cash which should pay for weapons and equipment is going to lawyers. Defence Minister Anna Soubry revealed the amount spent on external lawyers in the Treasury Solicitors Department, barristers and private legal work. Defence Minister Anna Soubry, left, revealed the MoD spent at least £28 million fighting legal claims last year
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There has been a rise in cases put down partly to human rights legislation
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Costs could be far higher because they do not count individual services
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MoD employs 190 lawyers and uses several others privately, the most ever
An @placeholder spokesman said: ‘We are having to spend taxpayers’ money defending the department and our military personnel.'