MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that a true bill has been returned at the Carlisle Assizes before Mr. Justice Day and a Grand Jury against Inspector Reed for perjury, and that Inspector Reed had to find bail himself for £20, and two securities of £10 each in connection with the case; and whether Inspector Reed still continues to perform his official duties?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am informed that the charge against the Inspector was, after a prolonged inquiry, dismissed by the Magistrates. The prosecutor, never-theless, elected to be bound over to prefer the charge at the Assizes, and the Grand Jury returned a true bill. As the case could not be tried at the present Assizes the Inspector gave security for his appearance at the next Assizes. I understand that the Inspector continues to perform his duties; whether or not he should be permitted to do so is a matter which rests entirely with the Local Police Authority whose officer he is, and I have neither the power nor the disposition to interfere with their discretion.