§ Lord Spensasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in January and February 1987 any instructions were issued by Ministers, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service to the Metropolitan Police and the Fraud Squad not to commence investigations into possible offences in connection with the affairs of Guinness plc until 5 May1987, when the police were formally asked by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Lord ChancellorIn November 1986 inspec-tors were appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under Sections 432 and 442 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs and membership of Guinness plc. In January
Prosecution counsel fees £ Other SFO costs £ Legal aid £ Central funds £ R v. Saunders and Others 572,000 163,000 1,271,953 — R v. Seelig/Spens 701,000 273,000 1,362,170 258,153 R v. Seelig/Mayhew 117,000 158,000 — 2,241,231 R v. Ward 13,000 36,000 492,268 327,221 Total 1,403,000 630,000 3,126,391 2,826,605