12 We estimate that the Magnox contract cost the taxpayer upwards of £122 million. The NDA agreed to settle legal claims with Energy Solutions and Bechtel at a cost of £97.3 million. It also spent £13.8 million on legal and external advisers. Of this, £3.2 million was spent on the competition and £8.6 million was spent on legal fees in the ensuing litigation. The NDA estimates that in-house staff time has cost £10.8 million. This excludes the cost of staff time of senior central government officials who were heavily involved in decisions, particularly about the NDA's settlement and its decision to terminate the contract. It also excludes the costs of the government's independent inquiry (paragraphs 4.1 to 4.5 and Figures 15 to 18).
13 Before terminating the contract, the NDA forecast 13% cost savings (£904 million). The NDA believes that, so far, CFP has reduced costs by around £255 million relative to the old contracts. We have not audited these figures. The NDA expects further savings to be made, but cannot yet verify the level of cost savings that could potentially be achieved by September 2019 (paragraphs 4.6 and 4.7).