Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, if he will make representations to the Serious Fraud Office to open an inquiry into any activity of Lloyds Bank Consumer Debt Recovery and Alder King.

The Serious Fraud Office is an independent Government department which investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption. In considering whether to take on an investigation, the Director David Green CB QC applies a Statement of Principle, which includes consideration of:

• whether the apparent criminality undermines UK PLC’s commercial or financial interests in general and the City of London in particular;
• whether the actual or potential financial loss involved is high;
• whether actual or potential economic harm is significant;
• whether there is a significant public interest element, and;
• whether there is a new type of fraud.

The SFO has given full and lengthy consideration to allegations against Lloyds Bank Consumer Debt Recovery and Alder King but they did not meet the threshold for the Director to open an SFO investigation.