§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations were held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise about(a) the prosecution of Matrix Churchill and (b) the withdrawal of the prosecution.
§ Sir John CopeThe commissioners of Customs and Excise, in the exercise of their independent prosecuting authority took the decision to initiate criminal proceedings in the Matrix Churchill case following advice of counsel on the sufficiency of evidence. They subsequently agreed with the conclusion of prosecuting counsel, following the evidence given by Mr. Alan Clark, that it would be wrong to continue with the prosecution. Ministers were informed of developments at various stages of the case.