HC Deb 10 December 1964 vol 703 cc1794-6
4. Mr. A. Royle

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the illegal activities of certain antique dealers on 28th September, 1964 at Northwick Park, Gloucestershire, and afterwards at the Swan Inn, Moreton-in-Marsh; and if he will instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate proceedings.

5. Mr. Ridley

asked the Attorney-General whether he will instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate proceedings against a number of antique dealers who were engaged in illegal activities at a sale in Gloucestershire and afterwards at an inn on 28th September, 1964.

The Attorney-General

Police inquiries are still in progress.

Mr. Royle

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware of an Independent Television programme last Thursday called "This Week" in which two antique dealers, one named Wolf Mankowitz, took part and in which they stated that they had taken part in illegal practices in the past and intended to do so again in future? Will he ask for a transcript of that broadcast and instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to take immediate action?

The Attorney-General

My opportunity for watching television programmes has been rather reduced in recent weeks and I confess that I did not see the programme. But I will certainly have the matters mentioned by the hon. Gentleman looked into.

Mr. Ridley

I am grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, but is he aware that there is very profound public disquiet about this whole question? Is he aware that there is public disquiet about the taxation position? Will he, therefore, get in touch with the Inland Revenue to make certain that there is every opportunity to investigate whether there has been any flouting of the tax laws in this and other similar instances?

The Attorney-General

I am aware of the public disquiet and I am grateful for the actions of the hon. Gentleman and other hon. Members in this matter. All I can say is that police inquiries are in progress. To answer the second part of his supplementary question, if any evidence becomes available of fraud on the Revenue this will be one of the matters that will be considered and dealt with.

Mr. Chichester-Clarke

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take the opportunity to discuss this whole matter on the taxation side with the Treasury?

The Attorney-General

If the hon. Gentleman has any material dealing with that aspect of the matter, perhaps he will take it up directly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Happily, he is responsible for that and not me.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Abse.

Mr. Ridley

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

In strict fact, I had called the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) before the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) gave notice.

Mr. Abse

Would the Attorney-General, in the material which may be placed before him by the police, see to it that, if it is relevant, it is passed to the President of the Board of Trade, since everything seems to be pointing to the fact that officers of the antique dealers' association, certainly in the past, have been guilty of actions in breach of the objects of their association, which include the intention to suppress all malpractices, so that the President of the Board of Trade may consider whether an inspector should be appointed to investigate?

The Attorney-General

As that supplementary question indicated, that is a matter for the President of the Board of Trade and my hon. Friend will, no doubt, wish to direct that question to him.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

On a point of order. I did not raise this before the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) had asked his supplementary question, but since the announcement by my hon. Friend that the matter would be raised on the Adjournment had been made and apparently accepted, is it now the practice that one can go on asking supplementary questions after notice has been given?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that the hon. Baronet could have been listening. I indicated that I called the hon. Member on my right, the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse), before I was aware that the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) was seeking to give notice, so an injustice would have been perpetrated had I taken any other course.