§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make available for public inspection her Department's inspectors report on Lord Archer's share dealings; and if she will make a statement. [277]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsNo. Reports of inspections under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 are not published and are therefore prepared on that basis. The inspectors undertake their task with the knowledge that there is no power in the Act providing for publication and that they need not, therefore, be inhibited in expressing their views. Individuals who are criticised in a section 177 report are not given any opportunity to comment upon the criticisms, as would be the case if the report was to be published. Section 177 reports are prepared to enable the Secretary of State to consider further action including possible criminal proceedings.