§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Attorney-General why, on 8 October, a spokesman for the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that no legal action was being considered against the right hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Parkinson) and Miss Sara Keays following publication of parts of her book; and for what reasons the Director of Public Prosecutions has now called in the police to investigate the matter.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI am informed that no such announcement was made.
164WOn 8 October the press officer for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed journalists in answer to a question put to him that a letter which was said to have been sent that day to the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions by the hon. Member was not under consideration because it had not been received by the Director of Public Prosecutions. That information, which was correct, appears to have been misinterpreted.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, having been consulted on my behalf on 11 October, reported to me on 15 October that he considered that certain aspects of the extracts from Miss Keays's book which had been published in the Daily Mirror required investigation. I concurred.