§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 12th June to reply to the letter from the Member for Newham, North-West concerning the court case of the admitted unlawful arrest of Mr. Andrew Wershof on 12th July 1975 and the £1,000 damages awarded to him; why no action has been taken against any of the police involved; what was contained in this reply which was not known and could not have been sent before 12th June to the hon. Member; 268W and whether he will publish the correspondence in the Official Report.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI regret that my hon. Friend did not receive an earlier reply to his letter of 28th March about the arrest of Mr. Paul Wershof. The delay was due partly to pressure of work in my Department, and partly to the need to obtain a report on the case from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. My letter made it clear that, although, in accordance with the wishes of solicitors acting on behalf of Mr. Wershof, disciplinary proceedings were not instituted against the officer concerned in the case, he was given suitable advice. I do not propose to publish the correspondence in theOfficial Report. I have written again to my hon. Friend.