§ Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Attorney-General whether the criminal investigation into matters raised by the report by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors into the House of Fraser has been concluded; and when he expects the Serious Fraud Office to reach a decision on prosecution.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Director of Public Prosecutions and the director of the Serious Fraud Office have today issued the following statement: 269W
The Report of the Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of the Serious Fraud Office on 14th July 1988. After careful consideration of the Report and the accompanying evidence, the Directors jointly referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police on 24th November 1988 and asked for necessary enquiries to be carried out. Following the request of the Directors, the Secretary of State witheld publication of the Report.The Directors are now satisfied that all lines of enquiry have been pursued and that the evidence available is insufficient to afford a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence relating to any matter of substance raised in the Report.The Secretary of State has accordingly been informed that the Directors withdraw their objections to the publication of the Inspectors' Report."