§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received the further 500W information requested from Larsen Sweeney Publications Ltd. on relations between his Department and certain foreign commercial organisations.
501W
§ Mr. RidleyA press release issued by Larsen Sweeney Publications Ltd. made a number of very serious allegations. These allegations were not supported by any evidence. In particular, they were not supported by any of the names, places or dates which the Government needed in order to identify the alleged incidents, investigate them and establish the real facts. The Government therefore immediately approached the authors of the report, and urged them to produce any evidence which they might have to substantiate their allegations. I attach a summary of the correspondence and discussions which have subsequently taken place between Government officials and representatives of Larsen Sweeney Publications Ltd., together with some further background material.
Despite repeated reminders over a period now approaching three months, the authors of the report have still produced no evidence and the allegations remain wholly unsubstantiated.