PARK: investigate themselves"
Graham Barton 'confessed" to the forgeries, Leyland had heen forced to agree to an inquir Into the Mail allegations potential embarrassment of inquiry remained.
What wouldit say about the mass of evidence on the slush fund? Would it indict Leyland or National Enterprise Hoard executives of bribery?
simply. First, the inquiry was not to was appointed by Varley; third, the As Graham Barton's lawyer William Howard put it in a rather incredulous tone at Barton's trial, The minister appoints you to investigate allegations which include allegations against you?' To which Ryder replied: Yes, and allegations against Al the Barton trial details of how this inquiry, was conducted were arised from Ryder and Alex Park by William Howard. It was described as a joint NEB-Leyland investigation', and in addition to Ryder the inquir was conducica Dy a from the NEB and one from Leyland.
The three set their reference. They ruled DUT investigation into the issues raised by the alleged forgeries, and they ruled out any investigation of the payment of bribes to those other than public officials The serious work of the team began on 23 May when five executives were interviewed. These WeTE Park, Clive Strowger David Andres and Fred Virgh: David Andrews. and Fred In the witness box al the Roder claimed that through interviens we were uncarth every single thing we could' and that the witnesses were subject to 'intensive cross-examination fetened ar the Barton trilla HAIT Park of 23 May was given. It was describet much les dramatically hy Park as quite simply a meeting Park alvo revealed that throughout the entire day (he live ailmesses questioned remarkable way of cliciting the truth, considering that all five witnesses said and not contradict them questions :
Inquiry executives investigations In other how their company had the Tive executives.
On this point, William Howard this Barton's lawyer investigation, condoning interviewed inthe Barton reports:
defence Howard SIso esplain the 'contradiction minister, story view that Barton Ryder shared senior official asked the question did you, Lond Ryder?
Dobson, who had trial, the determined to • were mOst could thereby know what cach other According to Ryder, at the end of this meeting the five executives were acco-to go awiy and par cerein things in writing. We gave them a Again Alex Park was somewhat more precise about this aspect of the in the witness box. Park testified that what in fact was asked of that they themseives should carry our further and then submit words, top management at Leyland was meant to examine objectively allegations abour reports found no evidence of bribery Barton and netber did Kyder s Imal 1coort. which was based on the 'evidence" of - concluded al the trial: What it boils down to, Lord Ryder, is that you accepted their (the national executives ) word without further Ryder objected to this interpretation, bat he agreed that hie had not resporsible for the payments detailed Challenge "Tus"
Howard asked
Ryder if he did not think it was 'vital"' to interview such witnesses to discover what the marients were or. Kyue of court replied: "That is calling on hindsight"
asked Ryder between the first statement by Clive Strowger, that Barton's reports were conducted thoroughness discretion", and his later, post-Mail could nor reports have the Kader was unable to explain the "contradiction". Did he ask Strawger to explain it, quizzed Howurd. Ryder admitted that he had not, und agreed *I think with hindsight we should have indoed which droue Howard le the trial. remark, "You didn't prove anyihing.
the report He concessichi liccessary. SILKIN: SC documents "sub judice BENN: saw 1974 report while they for two years The summons to be heard at the High Court to prevent the wilmesses from heing questioned in court.
The matter was resolved: Barton's defence decided that if tbis was Leyland'sattitude then even if tbe exocutives did appear in court they were bet likely to be cooperative.
TELEVISION And the authurities may not yet have rum out of excuses for silence. When the Barton trial began, Sociulist Challenge was approsched by BBC television news. They were thinking of finshing the documents in our possession on the TV screen A couple of days later we received a phone call from the BBC. They bad changed their mind about televising the documents. They had been told