§ Mr THORNEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give any information with regard to the £16,000 fraud charges brought against a Willesden Green licensee of a public house; and if he can state how the mistakes were made and the reason why the case was withdrawn?
§ Mr. COOPERThe case to which the hon. Member refers was heard in the Central Criminal Court. At the trial it became clear during the cross-examination of one of the witnesses that many of the items which were relied on to prove the charges and which had not been previously challenged, were capable of a different construction from that put upon them by the Crown. In view of the explanations of these items which were accepted by the witness, the Board of Inland Revenue who were responsible for the prosecution decided that in the altered circumstances it would be right to withdraw the prosecution.