HL Deb 12 June 1967 vol 283 cc648-50

2.50 p.m.

LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to make an announcement about the holding of a public independent commission of inquiry into the A.6 murder, having regard to the further detailed confession made by Peter Louis Alphon and other important new evidence about the Rhyl alibi, particulars of which have been given to the Home Secretary.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)

My Lords, my right honourable friend will make a statement as soon as he has completed the full study which he is making of these matters and of other representations, some of them very recent, that have been made to him.

LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask him this question? Having regard to the fact that it is now over ten months since I first raised this matter in your Lordships' House, can he give your Lordships any clearer indication of how long it will be before a decision is made?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, my right honourable friend is not yet able to forecast when he will be able to announce his decision. This must depend on the provision of certain additional information and reports for which he has called, including, as I said, representations made to him, within the knowledge of the noble Lord, last week. I think the noble Lord will agree with me that when my right honourable friend is able to announce a decision it must be after careful consideration of all the facts which it is possible to obtain and of the representations which have been made to him.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, the Question asks about a public independent commission. Will the noble Lord confirm that, should there be any credible evidence to show that the jury were wrong in saying that guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt, and the Court of Criminal Appeal were wrong, the Home Secretary has power to refer the matter again to the Court of Criminal Appeal?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, most certainly the Home Secretary has that power. But the noble and learned Viscount will not expect me to try now to anticipate the terms of the statement which my right honourable friend will make.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while I greatly appreciate the Answer given, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that Miss Joan Lestor, Member of Parliament for Eton and Slough, and I, as one who first raised this issue, were both received by the Home Secretary last week and that we put further information to him? Can he give an assurance that there will be an investigation of that further information as well as of the evidence regarding the alibi at Rhyl?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I am, of course, aware that my noble friend and Miss Joan Lestor saw my right honourable friend on Monday last, and I am aware of the nature of the information communicated to him. My original Answer covers the noble Lord's inquiry; namely, that these representations, and others, and indeed the results of investigations still to be made, will be taken into consideration by my right honourable friend.

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