§ 36. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement about the work of the Serious Fraud Office.
The Attorney-GeneralThe aims of the Serious Fraud Office remain to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system in dealing with serious fraud, thereby detering fraud and maintaining confidence in our financial systems. The Serious Fraud Office has, since its inception, prosecuted 171 individual defendants of whom 115 were convicted on one or more charges (67 per cent. of those brought to trial). Establishment of the Serious Fraud Office brought together the skills of several disciplines in a way which has made it possible successfully to investigate cases which previously might have proved impenetrable. The Serious Fraud Office has utilised modern technology extensively to ensure that cases can be presented succinctly and clearly to juries. Suggestions of overcharging are fallacious.
Of the 20 cases since September 1990 in which the jury were asked to return verdicts, six indictments contained one count only and only three indictments involved in excess of 12 counts. Each of those three indictments related to investor fraud involving up to several hundred instances of alleged criminal conduct.
§ 37. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received about the operation of the Serious Fraud Office.
The Attorney-GeneralIn 1992 I have received seven parliamentary questions on a variety of subjects which fall under the broad heading of representations about the operation of the Serious Fraud Office. Those are in addition to the questions on today's Order Paper. I have also received representations from one hon. Member and one constituent.