§ Mr. Altonasked the Attorney-General whether he will make it his policy to prosecute all staff employed by the Property Services Agency when there is prima facie evidence that they are involved in corrupt practice.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889–1916 specify my consent as a prerequisite of prosecution. I take such decisions on the basis of an objective assessment of the relevant considerations and usually with the advantage of advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Having satisfied myself as to he sufficiency of the evidence—on the basis of reasonable prospects of securing a conviction — I then consider whether, in the particular case, the public interest requires a prosecution. This entails certain considerations of public policy together with the circumstances both of the alleged offence and of the alleged offender. Where an offence represents an abuse by a public official of his position or the misappropriation of public funds this will greatly influence my decision.
The above approach is simply an application of the general guidance which I issued in March last year—a copy of which is in the Library. It would be unjust to distinguish cases involving the employees of any particular organisation—whether public or private sector—for the application of different criteria.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to investigate the 661W further allegations of continuing fraud in the Property Services Agency outlined in Sir Geoffrey Wardale's report to the Public Accounts Committee.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is for the Secretary of State for the Environment to decide whether further investigation of matters raised in the report by Sir Geoffrey Wardale is appropriate. In considering whether to do so, it is open to him and his Department to seek advice from myself or the Director of Public Prosecutions, as he has done with regard to other allegations of dishonest conduct as was done with numerous of the matters referred to in the report. But neither I nor the Director have the necessary powers or facilities to investigate allegations of crime. That is the responsibility of the police to whom the Director has passed and will continue to pass any allegation appearing to warrant investigation.