§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether, in the case brought by the Metropolitan Police against Mr. Albert Frank Palmer, a company director, he will state what he was charged with, and when, how long it took for his case to come to trial, what were the reasons for the delay, when it was dismissed, what were the total costs involved to the prosecution, and how much in costs Mr. Palmer is owed by the prosecution.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMr. Palmer was arrested on 21st February, 1968, and charged with an offence under Section 84 of the Larceny Act, 1861, of making a false statement in order to deceive shareholders in Rolls Razor Ltd. Committal proceedings began on 24th April, 1968, and the magistrate discharged Mr. Palmer on 17th December, 1968. It is not possible to isolate the costs of the committal proceedings against Mr. Palmer, who was charged along with five others. The total costs of the prosecution were approximately £24,500. The magistrate did not order that Mr. Palmer's costs should be paid by the prosecution but ordered that they should be paid out of public funds. The time taken before and during the committal proceedings was due to the highly complex matters which had to be investigated and dealt with.