§ Mr. Rookerasked the Attorney-General if he will list those cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions following Department of Trade investigations and give a progress report on each case, stating when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to announce his decision as to what action he intends to take.
671W
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt would not be in the public interest to list the cases which have been referred by the Department of Trade to the Director of Public Prosecutions, because that would identify companies, and possibly individuals, who are the subject of current police inquiries. There are 28 cases which have been so referred and in which decisions as to the institution of criminal proceedings have not yet been taken. In 27 of the cases police inquiries are continuing. In the remaining case police inquiries have been completed, but the Director requires a report from the liquidator of the company concerned to enable him to reach a decision about the matter. In these circumstances it is not possible to forecast how long it will be before the Director will be in a position to reach a decision affecting the institution of criminal proceedings in any of the cases.