DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (Hansard, 10 July 1978)

§ 51. Mr. Skinner
asked the Attorney-General when he expects next to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions.

55. Mr. Canavan
asked the Attorney-General when he expects next to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr. Attorney-General
Presently.

§ Mr. Skinner
When my right hon. and learned Friend meets the Director of Public Prosecutions, will he have a serious discussion with him about why giant firms such as Pirelli, which is run by prominent Tories, can fleece telephone subscribers without having criminal charges taken out against them, while councillors can be discharged from office for keeping rents down and people drawing social security benefits who might default for a few weeks can be sent to prison? Surely it is high time that this matter was dealt with in a more equitable fashion.

§ The Attorney-General
All my discussions with the Director are concerned with the improvement of the administration of justice in order to ensure that justice is done and injustice is not done. I cannot guarantee that the scope of my discussions will cover the matters raised by my hon. Friend.

§ Mr. Canavan
Will my right hon. and learned Friend ask the Director of Public Prosecutions what action, if any, he is taking about the Department of Trade's report on Lonrho's sanction-busting activities in Rhodesia? Does not he agree that it is about time there was some action on this matter, especially since a decision might he forthcoming about Lonrho's bid to take over SUITS?

§ The Attorney-General
The investigation into that matter is continuing. On 27th April my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, under the Southern Rhodesia sanctions order, signed an authorisation to the Director of Public Prosecutions which enables him to call for the production of documents. The Director has signed a request addressed to Lonrho asking for the production of certain documents. That request has been served and the investigation consequently will continue.

§ Mr. Adley
Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman noticed that a British court, albeit a Scottish court, has given an order to the Chilean Government saying that they are right in demanding the return at the hands of the British Government of certain property belonging to the Chilean Government? Since the Attorney-General has just told us that he is concerned with the administration of justice, what steps does he intend to take to ensure that this court order is carried out so that the good name of this country is not confused with the bad name of the Government'?

§ The Attorney-General
The hon. Gentleman very well knows that that is a question within the jurisdiction of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. He knows that it ought to have been put to them.

§ Mr. Madden
If the Post Office can be fiddled out of £9 million, is it not fair to assume that other public corporations are equally vulnerable? Therefore, what are the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions doing to protect the public interest?

§ The Attorney-General
The answer to that question is "A great deal". However, I do not entirely follow the purport of the supplementary question. If my hon. Friend will put down a specific Question or will write to me, I will do my best to give him an answer.