§ 40. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances copies of confidential reports concerning persons prominent in Government surplus sales activities and headed "Exhibit No. 36 Metropolitan Police Fraud Department, New Scotland Yard", have been received from an outside source; and if he will also give details of the circumstances connected with the disappearance from Scotland Yard of the file containing the original documents.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe document in question appears to be a copy of an exhibit at the trial of a former police officer at whose residence it was found, 589 and who was convicted of retaining the document in contravention of the Official Secrets Acts and is serving a sentence of imprisonment in respect of that and other offences. The circumstances in which copies of this exhibit came to be circulated are not clear. There is no question of the relevant file having disappeared from Scotland Yard.
§ Mr. DoddsIn view of the damning indictment in the report of top-level dealers in Government surplus stocks, can the Home Secretary say why all of them up to now have escaped long terms of imprisonment? Can he also give the real reasons why two police officers responsible for the report left the Yard and why, I understand, one transferred from the Yard to the full-time employment of racketeer No. 1? Why is the law so helpless against these rogues?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI think it would be a very good idea if the hon. Member put down another Question, because his supplementary question covered a deal of ground. I have answered the original Question which he asked me. That particular officer responsible for taking the document has been dealt with. If the hon. Member puts down his other questions, I shall be happy to answer them.