§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Attorney-General what criteria as regards the robustness of the evidence and the likelihood of securing a conviction the Director of Public Prosecutions employs in deciding whether to mount a prosecution; whether any special criteria apply in the case of alleged offences under the Official Secrets Acts; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralAll cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions are considered in the light of the Attorney-General's "Guidelines on the Criteria for Prosecution" which were published in February 1983, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. Prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act 1911 are treated no differently from any other case which the director has to consider.