§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Attorney-General how often the powers of the Treasury Solicitor Act 1876 have been used to create offshore bank accounts or conduct share transactions in the United Kingdom and overseas in the name of Government Departments and agencies; and in what form the use of these powers is reported to Parliament.
§ The Attorney-GeneralCurrently there are no offshore accounts which have been created under the powers in the Treasury Solicitor Act 1876. Information about such accounts which may previousy have been created since 1876 is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Treasury Solicitor has conducted share transactions as nominee of Government Departments or their agencies but principally on behalf of the Treasury for purposes connected with privatisations. Information identifying the number of such share transactions could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Any reporting to Parliament of share transactions by the Treasury Solicitor as nominee for another Government Department will be the responsibility of that other Department.