§ 11. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered giving guidance to chief officers of police on the procedures which should be followed in connection with resident informants held in custody by them.
§ Mr. WhitelawThis is under active consideration.
§ Mr. PriceIs the Home Secretary really satisfied with the way in which supergrasses—a word that I was not allowed to use in the main question—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. What is out of order in the Table Office is out of order here.
§ Mr. PriceIs the Home Secretary aware that as the word "supergrass" is out of order I shall have to use the term "resident informant"? Is he satisfied with the use being made by the Metropolitan Police and other police forces of this method of obtaining convictions in court? Is he further aware that one supergrass—I am sorry, I mean one resident informant—has recently escaped from the custody of the Metropolitan Police? Is he satisfied that that did not take place with police collusion?
§ Mr. WhitelawOn the first point, despite the very difficult questions involved, I am satisfied that informants of this nature are necessary in cases of serious crime—provided that they are dealt with in accordance with very clear guidence, which is issued to the chief constables concerned.
With regard to the escape to which the hon. Gentleman referred, it would not be right for me to anticipate the results of the inquiry that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has undertaken into that.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not want that word included in "Erskine May" in the list of words not to be used. As I am trying to find out why it is out of order, I should indicate to the hon. Gentleman that it would be in order on another occasion, but not on this one.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkWell done.