HL Deb 08 June 2000 vol 613 cc172-3WA
Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the report by His Honour Gerald Butler QC concerning the handling of the case of R v Doran and others has been delivered, what information concerning it will be published, and what action the Government will take in response. [HL2733]

The Attorney-General (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

The report by his Honour Gerald Butler QC was delivered on 14 April. On 22 July 1999 (Official Report, House of Commons, cols. 608–9) my predecessor as Attorney-General indicated the Government's intention to make a summary of the report and its recommendations available to both Houses. In the event, it is possible to make the report available in full, and I have therefore today lodged a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses, together with a copy of the Government's response. In addition, the summary included in the report and the inquiry's recommendations, together with the Government's response to them, are being made publicly available on the HM Customs and Excise Internet site [http:// www.hmce.gov.uk], and copies of the full report will be available on request to HM Customs and Excise at a cost of £8.

All the recommendations made to me in the report which are capable of acceptance immediately have been accepted. Further work is required by other recommendations and such work is being set in hand.

With the agreement of the Chairman of Customs and Excise Commissioners, His Honour John Gower QC, assisted by Sir Anthony Hammond KCB QC, has agreed to carry out an immediate review of the role of Customs as a prosecuting authority. The terms of reference are: Having regard to the Butler Report and the Hosker Report, the tripartite system operated within Customs and Excise in relation to the investigation and prosecution of offences, and to all other relevant considerations, to examine:

  1. (1) whether or not some or all of the prosecutions at present conducted by the Solicitor's Office of HM Customs and Excise should continue to be conducted by that Office;
  2. (2) to the extent that it is concluded that the Solicitor's Office should not continue to conduct some or all of those prosecutions, whether such prosecutions should be conducted by an existing prosecution authority, or by some other body;
and to make recommendations".

I anticipate receiving this report by the end of October this year.