HC Deb 29 June 1972 vol 839 c1636
1. Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now publish the police report on investigations into the police handling of the Quaye case.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Mark Carlisle)

No, Sir. I can see no reason for departing from the longstanding principle that such reports are not published.

Mr. Moyle

Is not the Minister aware that such reports are published and that whenever I have asked the police to conduct an investigation into a case they have always written to me to tell me what their conclusions were? Why cannot that be done this time? Is it not intolerable that the police not only conduct investigations into their own cases but that now, apparently, we are not supposed to find out what has happened to the investigation which was concluded?

Mr. Carlisle

I think the hon. Member must be wrong. As far as I know the conclusions of this investigation were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the normal way. I know that there is an added complication in that the family concerned, acting on the advice of their solicitors, have refused to be interviewed in the course of the inquiry. I certainly accept that the outcome of the inquiry is normally known and I will look further into the matter, but the Question asked for the report as such to be published.

Mr. Moyle

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I beg to give notice I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.