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Index to British press articles on the Fayeds' purchase of Harrods

In this leading article (written by either The Observer's editor, Donald Trelford, or Trelford's deputy, Anthony Howard) The Observer calls on the Government to publish immediately the recently completed DTI report into the Fayed brothers' acquisition of Harrods stores group House of Fraser, to enable the City of London and the public at large to learn the truth of the affair.

The Observer 
Sunday, 7 August 1988

A REPORT into the circumstances surrounding the transfer of House of Fraser, the Harrods stores group, to the Egyptian Fayed brothers was ordered by the Secretary [of State] for Trade and Industry 15 months ago.  It has now been delivered -- at a cost of £1 million -- to Lord Young, who has to decide whether, when and how much of it to make public.  He should publish all of it immediately. 
    There are many reasons why this should be done.  A main one is the fact that a number of public reputations have been attacked in the course of this bitter affair, including that of a foreign head of state, members of the Government, and a leading merchant bank -- not to mention the integrity of this newspaper's reporting.
    The City and the public at large are entitled to know how much truth there is in these charges and, if they are found to be substantially or even party true, what steps the government plans to take to rectify a piece of maladministration and ensure that a major British institution will never again be handed over to private foreign ownership so carelessly.  If, on the other hand, the report finds that many of these charges are unsubstantiated, justice requires that the names of the individuals and institutions concerned should be publicly declared. 
     The Government is evidently concerned at the damage that might be done to some personal and company reputations, but this is not a consideration applied by previous Conservative governments, as Messrs Rowland and Maxwell, among others, can ruefully testify.  There is also diplomatic concern at the possible effect on Britain's relations with the oil-rich country of Brunei.  But since the Sultan himself has shown a readiness to put his own case on the record in interviews with British newspapers, he can hardly complain if the Inspectors' conclusions on the evidence are also made available.
    The clinching argument for openness, however, is that the efficiency and integrity of the Government's own procedures are under scrutiny and the Department of Trade and Industry cannot be judge and jury in its own cause.  Nor can the Department which exercises watchdog powers over the City retain any public conviction if it is seen to be party to a cover-up when its own affairs come under suspicion.  Lord Young has no hiding place now.

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