§ Mr. Lambornasked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has received the first report on the investigations into the affairs of Mr. Poulson and his companies; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralYes. The final report has been received. This investigation, which has been concerned solely with possible criminal offences and has exceeded in scope, detail and time spent upon it, any similar operation, is now complete.
The police, Director of Public Prosecutions and the team of counsel retained to advise throughout the investigation have examined a mass of documentary and oral evidence and many allegations and rumours concerning the possible commission of offences. In consequence of that investigation 18 persons have been brought to trial, 13 have been convicted and no evidence has been offered in respect of one accused. Proceedings are in hand in respect of four persons.
Those participating in this investigation have now reached the conclusion, with which the Solicitor-General and I concur, that so far as concerns persons within the jurisdiction, there are not sufficient grounds to merit the commencement of any further prosecutions or continued inquiry into the possibility of obtaining further evidence of criminal offences. I have accordingly agreed that the investigation should now be brought to an end.
In doing so I pay tribute to the painstakingly thorough work of all concerned both with the investigation and with the prosecutions which followed.