§ 1. Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston)If all material held by South Yorkshire police in respect of the Hillsborough disaster which he ordered to be placed in the Library has now been deposited. [53506]
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department(Mr. Jack Straw)As much of the evidence as possible considered by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith in his Hillsborough scrutiny, including that held by South Yorkshire police, has been placed in the Library. That includes copies of the police statements, both in their original and amended form, and copies of other material considered by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith not already in the public domain.
I am aware that the Hillsborough family support group has queried whether there are any further statements outstanding and that is being followed up by South Yorkshire police.
§ Maria EagleI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I shall write to him in due course about the matter, 2 as I believe that there is documentation that he said should be put in the Library, but which is not yet there. I shall give specific examples when I write to my right hon. Friend.
The question that arises in my mind is why that documentation is still held by the South Yorkshire police. It was not formed or prepared by the police force, which was a party that was severely criticised in Lord Chief Justice Taylor's inquiry report. One of the problems the families have had in obtaining that documentation is the fact that South Yorkshire police have been unwilling to give it up. Can my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary tell the House why the police have custody of it?
§ Mr. StrawThe arrangements for the retention of those documents by the South Yorkshire police are the standard ones that apply in any police area: it is the responsibility of the police force concerned. A huge number of documents have been held and properly archived by the South Yorkshire police. We are transferring all those documents that are relevant to the Library of the House. I am aware of my hon. Friend's concerns and, once she has sent me details, I shall look into the matter.
§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)We look forward to the Home Secretary finally reaching his conclusions regarding the Hillsborough disaster, having taken into account the new information now coming from survivors and relatives of those who were killed. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are lessons to be learnt regarding crowd control, not only in football stadiums, but for other large events, such as the funeral of the Princess of Wales? What steps is he taking to ensure that the lessons learnt from the Hillsborough disaster are transmitted to other such events?
§ Mr. StrawA great many lessons were drawn from what happened at Hillsborough and, more particularly, from the excellent report of the inquiry conducted by Lord Taylor, later Lord Chief Justice. The police service and many others who have responsibility for crowd control have taken proper cognisance of the lessons to be learnt.
3 I have to say that I believe that the Metropolitan police service dealt with the policing of the funeral of the Princess of Wales with exemplary intelligence and skill.
§ Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead)Is my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary aware that a large number of people in Merseyside who lost relatives at Hillsborough would like directly to look at the documentary material? Would he consider making that material available in Liverpool library?
§ Mr. StrawI agree with my right hon. Friend that the information should be made available. I understand, although I am not absolutely certain, that the information is either currently being transferred to, or already held at, the central library in Liverpool. If that is not so, I shall certainly do my best to make arrangements to ensure that it is.