§ Q3. Mr. MaddenTo ask the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Bradford. [29140]
§ Mr. NewtonI have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Gentleman—[Interruption.]—partly to the reply I gave some moments ago and partly to the fact that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no current plans to visit Bradford.
§ Mr. MaddenIf the Prime Minister cannot visit Bradford, will the Leader of the House urge him to meet 684 a deputation from Bradford as soon as possible so that there can be discussions about how the city can be helped to overcome the poverty and deprivation that we suffer? If the Bradford congress is successful in devising an inquiry form which is acceptable to the local community, will the Leader of the House urge the Prime Minister to adopt the proposal and fund it from central Government so that the inquiry can be conducted as a matter of urgency, and so that it can be professionally administered?
§ Mr. NewtonI will, of course, ensure that the hon. Gentleman's request is drawn to my right hon. Friend's attention, but I do not think that I can add very much to what I said to the hon. Gentleman when he last questioned me about this. He will know that the Police Complaints Authority is supervising an investigation into complaints made about the police in the course of the riots and I think that the hon. Gentleman also agreed on a previous occasion that that is an independent inquiry and can be expected to do a thorough job. As I said before, I think that the right course of action is to allow that investigation to proceed and for discussion between the police and members of the Asian community to continue with the aim of restoring trust. I do not, at the moment, see any need for other inquiries.