HC Deb 24 October 1994 vol 248 cc409-10W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what correspondence he has received on the withholding from publication of his Department's report on the allegations of insider dealing by Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Mr. Heseltine

There is no provision in the Financial Services Act 1986 for inspectors reports to be published and it follows that it would be inappropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House. I have received several letters from Members of the House and others on the subject.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates on which his Department communicated with the inspectors who conducted the inquiry into allegations of insider dealing involving Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, showing the purpose of each communication.

Mr. Heseltine

It is normal practice for officials of my Department to keep in regular contact with inspectors during the course of their inquiries. Details of those contacts are confidential.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the(a) budgeted and (b) total cost of the inquiry into the allegations of insider trading involving Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare.

Mr. Heseltine

The total cost, including inspectors' fees, disbursements and VAT, of the investigation into alleged insider dealing in the shares of Anglia Television Group plc was £213,767. Individual inquiries are not subject to separate budgets.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to obtain the consent of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare to releasing the report on alleged insider dealing in relation to the MAI purchase of Anglia Television.

Mr. Heseltine

I have taken no such action.