HC Deb 20 December 1955 vol 547 cc1852-4
Mr. W. T. Williams

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to the fact that the liberty of three of Her Majesty's subjects, Emery, Powers and Thompson, is involved, and the fact that he has and has had in his possession for some few months vital information showing that these men may have been wrongly convicted, will he make a statement indicating that the men named will be granted a free pardon and be released before the House rises for the Christmas Recess.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Major Gwilym Lloyd-George)

On 2nd September, 1955, a prisoner sent me a petition in which he stated that he and others were responsible for the offence of which Emery, Powers and Thompson had been convicted. Experience shows that confessions of this nature cannot be assumed, without inquiry, to be true. I immediately directed inquiry to be made, and, preliminary inquiries by the Buckinghamshire police having indicated that there was some reason to think that the confession might be true, I asked the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to arrange for one of his senior officers to undertake a thorough investigation. This investigation started towards the end of October.

Most elaborate and meticulous inquiries have been made, involving interviews with numbers of people in various parts of the country, and endeavours to trace the car and the weapons said to have been used in the commission of the crime. After the inquiries had begun, further representations and statements reached me from various sources and these also have had to be investigated.

I am informed that the inquiries have now been completed and a report is in course of preparation. It will, of necessity, he long and detailed and it is right that it should be so. The officer concerned is aware that I am anxious to have his report as quickly as possible, but it is not likely to reach me within the next day or two. As soon as I receive the report I shall give it the fullest consideration and reach a decision as soon as possible, but I would emphasise that this is not an easy matter, and it is certainly not one on which I am prepared to reach a decision without seeing, and having time to study, a full report. In any event, it would not be proper for me to disclose in advance the advice which I propose to tender to Her Majesty.

Mr. Williams

Is it not a fact that the preliminary report is already in the hands of the Home Secretary, and that he has not only had a confession in his hands for almost four months, but that now a second prisoner has confirmed that confession, and the wife of an officer in charge of the case has also said that her husband is convinced of these men's innocence? These men have been in prison for one year and eleven months. Is it not intolerable that they should be left in prison a day longer if they are innocent? In any case, it is cruel to leave them without knowing their fate. In view of the fact that these matters have been proceeding for all this time, will not the Home Secretary, now that he has at least the preliminary part of that report in his hands, give a firm answer? Why does he delay in saying when his decision will be made known now that the report is in his hands, or soon will be?

Major Lloyd-George

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by referring to a preliminary report. The only report which I am interested in is a full report on the whole aspect of this question. The hon. Gentleman has referred to statements made by two or three people. The officer in charge of these investigations has already interviewed over 50 people concerned with this particular case. Every one of their statements has to he checked and questioned, and many of these statements have been made by prisoners now actually serving sentence. I think that the House will appreciate that if justice is to be done in this particular matter, every possible step must be taken to investigate every statement that is made.

Mr. de Freitas

In view of the remarkable circumstances of this case, will be Home Secretary indicate that he will do everything that he can to come to a decision as soon as possible, because there is this fact, which my hon. Friend raised, of the possibility of innocent men being imprisoned for two years?

Major Lloyd-George

As I said in my original Answer, as soon as I get the report I will examine it and make a decision as soon as I possibly can, because I am anxious, even if I have not said so in my reply to the Question, that this matter should be fully investigated and dealt with.

Sir L. Heald

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend assure the House that this matter will receive his close personal attention before any decision is reached?

Major Lloyd-George

I can give my right hon. and learned Friend that assurance without question.