§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on progress made to date by the RUC and the Director of Public Prosecutions Northern Ireland in their efforts to obtain information in Gibraltar relating to George Finbar Ross and the International Investments Ltd. Gibraltar—in liquidation—fraud.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI refer to the answer given by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General on 21 July 1993,Official Report, column242, when he stated that:
As a result of a Letter of Request for evidence in relation to the affairs of International Investments Ltd—in liquidation—issued by Belfast Magistrates' Court on 1 November 1990, the Supreme Court of Gibraltar made an Order on 16 June 1993 requiring witnesses named in the Letter of Request to attend before a Special Examiner on 12 July 1993 to give evidence on oath and produce documents.A hearing took place on 12 and 13 July 1993. A number of witnesses were examined and their depositions recorded. The hearing has been adjourned to allow consideration to be given to certain documents which have now become available. It is anticipated that the hearing will recommence in October 1993.The hearing recommenced on 19 October 1993 and continued on 20 and 22 October 1993. A number of further witnesses were examined and their depositions recorded.
The formal proceedings in Gibraltar are now complete. The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland is presently awaiting receipt of the depositions which were recorded at the hearing before the special examiner. Following the hearing in Gibraltar a number of further inquiries remain to be undertaken.