§ 31. Mr. FavellTo ask the Attorney-General how many overseas visits have been made by Serious Fraud Office staff since 5 December.
The Attorney-GeneralFive overseas visits have been made by Serious Fraud Office staff since 5 December 1991 in the course of current inquiries.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions of City institutions for fraud were brought by the Serious Fraud Office in 1991; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-GeneralIn 1991 the Serious Fraud Office commenced prosecutions in 14 different cases against 45 individual defendants. Proceedings were concluded during 1991 in 25 cases and trials were commenced but not concluded in three others. In the same period 45 defendants were convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more criminal offence and eight defendants were acquitted at court of trial. The conviction rate of 85 per cent. which indicates the effectiveness of the Serious Fraud Office in investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud. The figures are not susceptible to classification in the manner suggested by the hon. Member's questions.
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§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Attorney-General if he will call for a report from the Director of the Serious Fraud Office on property stolen from the National Union of Mineworkers discovered in the course of the Serious Fraud Office investigation of Mirror Group Newspapers.
The Attorney-GeneralNo. No allegations of this nature have been brought to the attention of the director of the Serious Fraud Office in the course of the investigations of Mirror Group Newspapers or at all.