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Attorney General

Answer

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement in respect of the removal by an agency of Her Majesty's Government of (a) files and (b) other evidence from the offices of ISC in west London, following the announcement by Sir Derek Alun Jones in respect of fraud at the company; what was the nature of such material; what steps were taken by his office to ensure that it was properly preserved and examined by investigating authorities; and what action was taken as a result of such an examination. [40209] The Attorney-General: My answer relates only to the Serious Fraud Office for which I have ministerial responsibility. On 12 September 1989 an announcement was made by Sir Derek Alun Jones to the effect that the company was carrying out an internal investigation into some of its overseas contracts and that the annual general meeting of the company would be adjourned until 10 October 1989. Shortly thereafter the Serious Fraud Office commenced its preliminary investigation. Neither the Serious Fraud Office nor police officers working with it at any time removed files or other evidence from the offices of ISC in west London. Certain documentation originating from the offices of ISC (London) plc and ISC (Technologies) Ltd. was however produced to the SFO by Ferranti's solicitors. Where copies were taken by the SFO, they were analysed and preserved in the normal way. The investigation was carried out in close co-operation with the United States' prosecuting authorities. Seventeen individuals and three corporations were subsequently indicted in the United States on charges of fraud in respect of which I refer the hon. Member to my previous answers to him of 16 July 1996, Official Report, columns 459-60.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

282 c663-4W;282 c661-2W; 40209

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Company investigations Fraud Mergers Ferranti Serious Fraud Office International Signal and Control