§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of his Department's investigations into David Abell, chairman of Suter, in respect of allegations that he was involved with insider dealing; how long this investigation took; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonInquiries under section 442 of the Companies Act 1985 and under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 into share transactions involving, inter alia, Mr. David Abell were begun in July 1988. These inquiries were concluded on completion of the Companies Act inspections in October 1992, the report of 11W which was published in January 1993. No proceedings are contemplated against Mr. Abell or any other persons as a result of these inquiries, which in total cost £501,000.