§ 20. Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the law on fraud; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggSeveral aspects of the law on fraud are currently being reviewed by the Law Commission, and we shall give careful consideration to its recommendations.
§ 26. Mr. Nicholas BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government action to improve the investigation and prosecution of fraud cases.
§ Mr. John PattenMany of the reforms which the Roskill committee proposed have been enacted in the Criminal Justice Act 1987. They include creation of the serious fraud office, equipped with extensive investigatory powers and an expert staff, which became operational earlier this month; and changes in court procedure for complex fraud cases which we hope to bring into effect later this year.
In the Criminal Justice Bill we are proposing further measures, including changes to the law of evidence, which will help to bring fraudsters to justice.