HL Deb 25 June 1999 vol 602 cc111-2WA
Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the scale of the settlement in the Sevso case (Marquess of Northampton v Allen and Overy and Peter Mimpriss), reportedly in excess of £15 million (The Times, 8 May), whether they will reconsider the decision not to prosecute in respect of matters alleged in those proceedings, including fraud and fraudulent misrepresentations. [HL2676]

The Lord Chancellor

The decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute in respect of these matters was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors after careful consideration of the available evidence. The basis of that decision was that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

Since that decision was made no further significant and admissible evidence has been submitted which would cause the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider the decision.

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are concerned that criminal conduct may have been involved in the Sevso case (Marquess of Northampton v. Allen & Overy and Peter Mimpriss), given the reported scale of the settlement. [HL2677]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Further to my Answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, col. WA 147, following discussions between the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, I now understand that the reasons the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute any individual concerned in the purchase of the Sevso silver was due to the insufficiency of evidence and not, as stated in my earlier reply, because it was not in the public interest.