HC Deb 19 February 1979 vol 963 cc26-7
32. Mr. Canavan

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

The Parliamentary Secretary, Law Officers' Department (Mr. Arthur Davidson)

Well within the foreseeable future.

Mr. Canavan

Will my hon. and learned Friend ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to study the Peachey report with a view to possible prosecutions? The report refers to some confusion concerning what happened to certain filing cabinets. There may have been some confusion in certain people's minds after the bottle party at Downing Street.

Mr. Davidson

The Peachey report contains a variety of matters, many of which are fairly sleazy and unseemly. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Director has already considered the report and has decided that no further inquiries are called for.

Mr. Lee

When my hon. and learned Friend meets the Director of Public Prosecutions, will he consider the question of electoral expenses under regulation 68 of the European election regulations? If, as I understand it, the campaign may be deemed to have started by virtue of the fact that the election date is fixed, any expenditure undertaken by way of promotion must be accounted for in the election expenses of the candidates. If the candidates exceed their expenditure, they are liable to be unseated if elected.

Mr. Davidson

My hon. Friend has raised an interesting matter. If he will send me details, I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will consider it in detail.

Mr. Christopher Price

When my hon. and learned Friend's right hon. and learned Friend next meets the DPP, will he discuss with him his policy for bringing prosecutions for contempt of court? Will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that his right hon. and learned Friend has decided to bring no prosecution for contempt against the authors of the paperback book on the Thorpe committal, Peter Chippindale and David Leigh, so that W. H. Smith and Son Limited, which is as present banning the book and censoring it in all its retail outlets, may lift the ban?

Mr. Davidson

That matter is still under consideration by the DPP. My right hon. and learned Friend, who is also my hon. Friend's right hon. and learned Friend, is responsible for bringing contempt proceedings and not the DPP. No doubt my right hon. and learned Friend will discuss with the Director everything that my hon. Friend has raised.