§ 53. Mr. Rookerasked the Attorney-General what was the length of time between the receipt by the Director of Public Prosecutions from the West Midlands police of papers in the Bryant Building Company Limited case and his announcement on 22nd May that there would be no further prosecutions.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFourteen months. The Director of Public Prosecutions received the final papers in the Bryant case in March 1977, and in the same month I gave my consent to prosecutions and summonses were issued. The trial was completed on 17th May 1978 and I made my statement five days later.
§ Mr. RookerIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that his answer to me on 22nd May, when he said that there would be no further prosecutions, caused great dismay in the West Midlands, not least among the police, who had been involved for so long in the investigation and who know that 1,900 people have got off scot-free? Is he further aware that many people believe that a cover-up is under way because of the great and the good who appear on that list?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI am not aware that that reply was greeted with great dismay. I am aware that my hon. Friend has previously made allegations of a cover-up which I have denied. He has previously alleged in this House that the police themselves have spoken about a cover-up, but I have before me a report which clearly indicates that the chief constable has denied any suggestion of a cover-up. There is no cover-up and there has been no cover-up.