HC Deb 22 May 1978 vol 950 cc1108-10
55. Mr. Rooker

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

56. Mr. Skinner

asked the Attorney-General when he next intends to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Attorney-General (Mr. S. C. Silkin)

Quite soon.

Mr. Rooker

When my right hon and learned Friend next meets the DPP will he ask him to take action to interview the 1,960 people in Birmingham and the West Midlands who, in a recent court case, were alleged to have received gifts from the Bryant building company and, if necessary, set up a special office in Birmingham to do that job so that no judge in future can again describe Birmingham as a municipal Gomorrah?

The Attorney-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions has already considered with very great care all the facts involved in that case, has had prolonged and very careful advice from counsel and has considered the matter with myself and my Department. I am quite satisfied that all that requires to be done in relation to prosecutions has already been done.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider, in relation to the case that finished on Friday in the Divisional Court, where it was found that a mere arrangement had been frustrated, whether his conversations with the DPP, which authorised the Director to use such phrases as flouting the direction of the court when there had been no such direction, were proper? Will he consider whether such statements, which were repeated in all the newspapers, when there was no direction of the court at all, were so prejudicial to the defendants as themselves to constitute contempt?

The Attorney-General

I understand that there is a later Question on contempt of court on the Order Paper.

Mr. Skinner

Can the Attorney-General tell us whether the DPP is pleased that some of the loose ends of some of the London and County scandals have been tied up with the arrest of Gerald Caplan and some of his associates? Would he be even more pleased if he were able to tie up some of the loose ends of the Poulson inquiries relating particularly to the Malta hospital contract and the question of arresting, or at least charging, Dr. Kenneth Williams, who was involved in that matter, along with some other notables?

The Attorney-General

The London and County matter is sub judice and extradition proceedings are being taken. On the other matter to which my hon. Friend referred, I have already answered the same question from him not less than five times, and the answer remains the same.