PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Contempt of Court (21 July 2015)

To ask the Attorney General, what his policy is on the circumstances in which his Department should pursue a case of contempt of court, and when such action should be pursued by a private individual.

Asked by:
Lilian Greenwood (Labour)

When the Attorney General or Solicitor General is asked to consider bringing contempt proceedings each case is reviewed on its own merits. The Law Officer considering the case has to be satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of proving in the High Court that a contempt has been committed and, if so, that it is in the public interest to institute proceedings. It is important that the Law Officer exercises discretion in this area to ensure that he only brings proceedings where he is satisfied that both the evidential and public interest considerations are met.

Answered by:
Sir Robert Buckland (Conservative)
7 September 2015