§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 32, what proceedings have now been initiated following the Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme entitled "The Committee."
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo criminal proceedings have been initiated in Northern Ireland by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is preparing a police investigation file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
During the course of investigation into the matters raised in the programme an order was obtained by the Metropolitan police under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 requiring Channel 4 Television Limited and Box Productions Limited to produce certain documents. The companies declined and 310W the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales brought proceedings for contempt of court before the Divisional Court. Both companies were found to be in contempt and a fine of £75,000 was imposed. The Metropolitan police subsequently carried out a further investigation into the veracity of statements made in an affidavit by Ben Hamilton and filed in the contempt proceedings. Ben Hamilton was charged with perjury on 29 September 1992. Those proceedings were discontinued by the Crown prosecution service on 23 November 1992.