§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when the decision to prosecute all but one of the former directors of Astra was taken, if he was consulted over the decision to prosecute; and what factors led to the decision not to prosecute the remaining director. [29482]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe decision to bring disqualification proceedings against certain of the former Astra directors was taken in May 1994 by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade after considering the advice of officials, Treasury Solicitors and counsel. This decision was taken after consideration of the conduct of those concerns as set out in the report of independent inspectors appointed under the Companies Act 1985 to investigate the affairs of Astra Holdings plc and published on 17 June 1993.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade from which hon. Members he has received correspondence or representations about the investigations into the conduct of, and ultimate prosecution of some of the former directors of Astra. [29721]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansI list those hon. Members who have tabled questions before the House concerning the appointment of and subsequent report of the inspectors172W appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc.
Jim Cousins; Doug Hoyle; Allan Rogers; Austin Mitchell; Michael Meacher; Gerald Bermingham; Lord Clinton Davis has tabled a question before the House of Lords.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise the records of Astra and BMARC that were acquired in the course of his Department's inquiries into the affairs of Astra. [29485]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansInformation obtained by use of the Secretary of State's compulsory powers is confidential and disclosure is subject to legal restrictions. No request has been made yet by HM Customs and Excise for information obtained by the inspectors appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc, but I can assure the hon. Member that in discharging the Department's responsibilities I am conscious of and will take into account the strong public interest in ensuring that the proposed investigation by HM Customs and Excise is comprehensive and effective.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will suspend or withdraw his prosecutions of former directors of Astra until the HM Customs and Excise inquiry into Astra and its subsidiaries is complete. [29483]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe proceedings initiated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade are for the disqualification as company director of certain former directors of Astra, not their prosecution, and are based on the report of independent inspectors appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra Holdings plc. The inspectors' investigation and subsequent report did not concern itself with the subject matter of the HM Customs and Excise enquiry. On that basis I see no reason to suspend the disqualification proceedings. It is of course open to any of the respondents to seek an adjournment of the disqualification proceeding if they think there are sufficient grounds.