§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise his Department to investigate the allegations about irregularities of dollar premium payments on British citizens buying properties in Spain, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Kingswood.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonMy Department is already investigating the allegations which my hon. Friend has passed to me. I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.
§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions have been made by his Department in each of the last five years, relating to irregularities over dollar premium payments relating to cash being taken out of the United Kingdom to Spain; and what sums of money are involved.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe table below lists the prosecutions under the Exchange Control Act 1947 in relation to illegal purchases of private property in Spain552W by United Kingdom residents in each of the last 5 years, and the approximate sums involved.
All these prosecutions led to convictions.
Number of prosecutions Approximate sums involved £ 1974 21 172,969 1975 6 48,496 1976 14 163,879 1977 8 105,913 1978 7 40,710