§ 10. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what progress is being made in his discussion on the use of tape recorders for the taking down of statements and for the recording of interviews between the police and suspects.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon)The committee which we have established to look into the feasibility of an experiment in the tape-recording of police interrogations is making good progress. In the light of the committee's report, which we hope to receive in the summer, we will decide whether any experiment should be mounted.
§ Mr. BennettWill not the Minister accept that what he has called good progress is not satisfactory to many groups? Is not the time right for experiments to be carried out rather than to wait for a report on whether experiments are desirable?
§ Mr. LyonIt would seem a bit daft to appoint a committee to advise us on what we should do and then to act before that committee has reported. I told my hon. Friend that we expect the report to be available in the summer. I do not think we can expedite the matter further.
§ Mr. LawrenceAs this is only a report into the feasibility of having an experiment, why has it taken over 18 months and who or what is holding it up?
§ Mr. LyonThe committee has had nine meetings, the first in April 1975 and the most recent on 11th March. It consists of representatives of the Bar Council, the Law Society, the Justices' Clerks' Society, the Association of Chief Police Officers and a number of Government Departments. I suspect that the fact that the members of the committee are all busy people has been one reason for some delay. However, the hon. Gentleman knows that a number of difficult technical issues have to be decided in the presentation of tape recorded evidence to the courts in order to ensure that it is valid evidence.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceIs my hon. Friend aware that his answer is just not good enough and that there are stories that this committee is being held up not by the difficult technical problems before it but by the determination of some of its members not to produce an agreed report? Is my hon. Friend aware that although it first met in April, it has been sitting since February last year? Will he ask that a report be produced much sooner than the summer?