MANCHESTER AND SALFORD CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

HC Deb 10 October 1945 vol 414 cc263-4W

Sir J. Mellor

asked the Attorney-General if he will state the facts upon which the Director of Public Prosecutions drew the attention of the Manchester and Salford Co-operative Society to the provisions of the Corrupt Practices Act, 1854; and on what grounds it was decided that a corrupt or illegal practice had been committed by the society.

The Attorney-General

To state publicly the facts taken into consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions in arriving at a decision in an individual case would, in my view, constitute an undesirable departure from accepted practice. In answer to the second part of the Question, a formal Opinion from the Law Officers was not asked for in this case, but the Director of Public Prosecutions reported he full facts to the then Attorney-General with a recommendation that the matter could be properly dealt with by a caution. That recommendation my right hon. and learned predecessor approved.