§ 31. Mr. RookerTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress of consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the director of serious fraud office of the inspectors' report on the takeover of the House of Fraser and the contents of the book "A Hero from Zero".
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Nicholas Lyell)Investigations are continuing and will be concluded as soon as possible.
§ Mr. RookerI thank the Solicitor-General for that reply. Does he accept that it is six months this week since the serious fraud office received the inspector's report on the House of Fraser? Will he confirm that there is no undue delay in reaching a decision one way or the other simply because people in high places are involved? Does he accept that the longer the delay in reaching a decision, the greater will be the concern of the thousands of House of Fraser employees who have been bought and sold by international business men as if they were pawns? It appears from the report that they are, in the words of one of the judges, being bought and sold
from cash from under the mattress.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI certainly confirm that the matter is of considerable complexity and has been proceeding with all proper expedition.
§ Mr. Tim SmithDoes the Solicitor-General have any additional information about the book "A Hero from Zero"? Could he tell the House the selling price, how many copies have been sold and whether it has yet appeared in the best-seller lists? Will he be recommending it for the Booker prize for fiction?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralMy hon. Friend will appreciate that those facts do not fall within my responsibilities.