§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy with regard to publication 569W of the House of Fraser inquiry report before (a) the serious fraud office has completed its inquiries, and (b) any criminal cases stemming from its inquiries have been disposed of by the courts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 31 October 1988]: Publication of the report is a matter for the Secretary of State's discretion. His present view is that it would not be proper for the report to be published either before the serious fraud office has completed its inquiries or, if there were to be criminal proceedings, until after those proceedings were concluded.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the names of persons or organisations mentioned in the report to which any sections of the House of Fraser inquiry report have been revealed.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement outlining the reasons for his decision to postpone the publication of the House of Fraser inquiry report following the announcement by the serious fraud office that further time was needed for investigation and consideration of the case by their officers; and what other considerations he took into account in making his decision.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I am unable to add to the press statement released by my Department on 29 September 1988.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date he received the inspector's report into the affairs of House of Fraser; when he forwarded the report to(a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) the serious fraud office; what other bodies outside Her Majesty's Government were sent copies; and what were the reasons for circulating copies to the Office of Fair Trading and the serious fraud office.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 31 October 198]: The inspectors submitted their report to the Secretary of State on 23 July. As indicated in the Department's press statement on 29 September, a copy of the report was forwarded to the Director General of Fair Trading. This took place on 19 August after the necessary parliamentary order had come into force. The report was passed to the director general because the Secretary of State would have power to refer the merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission if the report contained evidence of material facts about the merger that had not previously been notified or made public. The director general is considering the matter and will be advising the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable.
As also indicated in the press statement, a copy of the report was passed to the serious fraud office. This took place on 28 July. This was because the report raised serious issues which required to be looked at by the prosecution authorities.
In answering this question it would not be proper for me to discuss which bodies apart from those indicated in the press statement have received copies of the report. These matters are necessarily confidential.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he received any request from the serious fraud office in respect of the publication of the House of Fraser report; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I have received no such request. Naturally, my Department consults the prosecuting authorities in appropriate cases before publishing material which might be prejudicial to their investigations or to any subsequent prosecutions. Such consultation took place in this case and the views of the prosecuting authorities were given due weight.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has received from the serious fraud office regarding the time which will be required by it to consider the House of Fraser inquiry report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I have received no information from the serious fraud office in this respect. I am confident that its inquiries will proceed as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough investigation.