§ 11.5 a.m.
§ Sir John Mellor (Sutton Coldfield)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation. Last Monday, in a supplementary question, I asked:
Is the Solicitor-General aware that de Bernales paid £155,000 to settle several actions against him for fraud?"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th April, 1952; Vol. 499, c. 1015.]I wish to correct that statement. I am now informed that Mr. de Bernales with other defendants to these actions agreed to terms of settlement involving payment to plaintiff's solicitors of £130,000, but that this sum has not yet been paid. Although this correction does not touch the point of my question, as I did not suggest that there was no prosecution because of the payment of this money, I owe an apology to the House; and I am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for permitting this correction.