§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) for what reason his Department is seeking to have documents relating to the Astra case destroyed; [131507]
(2) what public interest justifications for the retention of documents relating to the Astra case he considered in making the decision not to retain them; [131508]
(3) if he will require the Official Receiver to retain documents relating to the Astra case. [131510]
§ Dr. HowellsThe accounting records of Astra Holdings plc are under the control of the Official Receiver as liquidator of the company following a winding-up order made by the court on 13 January 1999.
Having established that the records were no longer required for the purposes of the liquidation, the Official Receiver proposed to utilise his powers under insolvency legislation and destroy the records. However, he became aware that third parties were interested in retaining the accounting records, for reasons unconnected with the liquidation.
In view of the competing demands for the preservation of the records, the Official Receiver has sought direction from the court on the question of their destruction, or continued preservation and custody. A court hearing to determine this matter is awaited and until then the records will be stored at public expense.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the organisation Killing Secrets on the question of Astra documents. [131509]
§ Dr. HowellsCopies of my letters of 29 April and 19 May 2000 to Killing Secrets will be placed in the Library.