Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Attorney-General whether, pursuant to the answer by the Minister for Trade to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen, on 5 May, Official Report, c. 61–62, any public announcement was made by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on 19 April when he referred the matter of the contract for salvaging the gold on HMS "Edinburgh" to the police; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Director of Public Prosecutions made no announcement about this matter on 19 April. Following the publication of a newspaper article on Sunday 25 April, and in reply to specific inquiries from the press, the director confirmed on Monday 26 April that the matter had been brought to his attention by the Department of Trade and that the Metropolitan Police were undertaking inquiries. I do not propose to make a statement about this matter.