§ 16. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report by Sir Henry Fisher into the Confait case; and when he intends to publish it.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMy right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and I have received Sir Henry Fisher's report, and we propose to publish it in full as soon as possible.
§ Mr. PriceI thank my right hon. Friend for the statement that he is willing to publish not merely the findings, as he had promised, but the full report. Is he aware that it is now five years since this miscarriage of justice took place under which three of my constituents were sentenced for a murder which they did not commit and that they are still waiting for their compensation? That is a very long period. Is he aware that it is four months since he announced the setting up of the Royal Commission into pre-trial procedures and that he has not yet announced the names of either the Chairman or the members of that Royal Commission? Will he tell us when we shall have those names?
§ Mr. ReesOn the last point, although I should like to do that quickly, there are problems in appointing members to Royal Commissions which make it difficult to move quickly. All I can say on the first part of the question is that I intend to publish it. I know the part that my hon. Friend has played in this matter, and I know that when the report is published he will not complain in any way about the content of it.