§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cases of alleged insider dealing have been referred to him by the Stock Exchange in the past 12 months; how many of these have resulted in prosecution; if he is satisfied with the system of self-policing by the Stock. Exchange; and if he is considering any new measures to counter insider dealing.
§ Mr. EyreThe insider dealing provisions of the Companies Act 1980 have been in force since 23 June 1980. Since then the Stock Exchange has referred to my Department information about dealings involving the securities of 16 companies. None of this information has yet led to a prosecution; but some of it is still under investigation. My Department is in close contact with the Stock Exchange, which plays a valuable part in the enforcement of the statutory provisions by making preliminary enquiries into unusual movements in the prices of listed securities, and in appropriate cases referring the results to my Department. It would be premature to consider new measures to counter insider dealing.