§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, after the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South complained in a letter to him on 28th November 1977 about the negative and unsympathetic attitude of the police towards the rape counselling and research project, the Minister of State did not reply until 21st February.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI am sorry for the delay, but in answering the letter, which was not received until 9th December, it was necessary to make various inquiries and give the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis an opportunity to look again at the policy of his force towards the project.