§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the action of the Government in respect of the Lord Chancellor's inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Newton, and the police investigation of the circumstances attending the arrest of Miss Cass?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The Report and evidence of the police investigation of the circumstances attending the arrest of Miss Cass were laid before the Law Officers of the Crown, who advised that the Director of Public Prosecutions should be instructed to prosecute Police Constable Endacott for perjury. I sent instructions accordingly to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The advisers of Miss Cass have, I understand, since obtained a summons against Endacott. I shall instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to arrange with Miss Cass's solicitors either to take up the prosecution instituted by them, or, at their option, to leave the conduct of the proceedings with them. The Lord Chancellor has dealt with the case of Mr. Newton, and has expressed his disapproval of the mode in which the inquiry before Mr. Newton was conducted; but he does not think his communication to Mr. Newton could properly be made public until the proceedings now pending have been brought to a conclusion.
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether care will be taken that Police Constable Endacott shall not be prejudiced by the character of the 1716 cross-examination pursued in the course of the inquiry at Scotland Yard?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am afraid I cannot answer for the conduct of the prosecution, or for the consequences which may ensue from the answers which Endacott gave at Scotland. Yard. I think the hon. Member may safely trust the Judge before whom the case will be tried.