Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the CPS on the potential grounds for prosecuting Phil Shiner for his role in making false allegations against members of the Armed Forces and the misuse of public funds.

I regularly meet the Director of Public Prosecutions at which we discuss a range of issues. In common with the practice adopted by previous administrations, I do not routinely comment on what is discussed at these meetings.

The conduct of criminal investigations is a matter for the police. Should the police wish to seek a charging decision from the CPS, the CPS will consider any papers supplied in accordance with the two stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors: firstly, is there sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and, if so, is a prosecution needed in the public interest.