HC Deb 14 May 1973 vol 856 cc246-7W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Attorney-General what is the current rule of practice adopted by the Director of Public Prosecutions in advising upon prosecutions for perjury.

The Attorney-General

In advising whether or not proceedings for perjury should be instituted, the Director of Public Prosecutions applies the same broad criteria as for any other alleged criminal offence, namely, whether the evidence is sufficient to justify a prosecution and whether proceedings are required in the public interest.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions for perjury there have been in the past 12 months where substantially the only evidence against the defendant was a denial of the prosecution's case as opposed to a deliberate fabrication of evidence.

The Attorney-General

Statistics kept by the Director of Public Prosecutions do not contain the information requested by the hon. Member, and the work and cost involved in examining the relevant case files would be disproportionate. I am, however, able to tell the hon. Member that, while each case has to be considered on its own merits, as a matter of general principle proceedings are not normally instituted where the alleged perjury was confined to a bare denial of the prosecution's case. Where, however, the alleged perjury consisted of clearly malicious and persistent false testimony, or where it involved accusations against other people which might have led to a miscarriage of justice in respect of them, different considerations apply and the public interest may require that proceedings should be instituted.

ESTIMATED NUMBERS GF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS
(thousands)
Leek Cheadle Biddulph Kidsgrove
June 1962 … … … 13.6 6.1 3.8 9.3
June 1963 … … … 13.3 6.1 3.8 9.7
June 1964 … … … 13.1 6.2 4.2 11 .5
June 1965 … … … 13.2 5.7 3.8 10.9
June 1966 … … … 13.3 6.1 3.9 11.8
June 1967 … … … 13.4 6.2 3.6 15.1
June 1968 … … … 13.0 6.0 3.7 14.0
June 1969 … … … 13.2 5.8 3.9 13.4
June 1970 … … … 12.5 5.9 3.4 12.0
June 1971 … … … 12.1 6.1 3.4 11.9

The estimates are subject to sampling and other errors, and no significance should be attached to small changes from one year to another.