§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he asked the Metropolitan police, following a request from the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, for their agreement that the solicitors for Mr. and Mrs. K. Crane should be allowed to see the police report on the death in Spain of Petty Officer John Black, Royal Navy; what response has been received; and whether he will insist upon an immediate substantive reply from the police.
§ Mr. FreemanMinistry of Defence officials wrote to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on 26 May 1988 seeking his agreement to a limited release of the police report on the death of Petty Officer J. Black to the solicitors for Mr. and Mrs. Crane. A reply was received on 4 July 1988. In it, the police state that, in view of the knowledge of the outcome of the police inquiries already available to Mr. and Mrs. Crane, the Commissioner sees no reason to make an exception to the general rule that police reports following inquiries remain confidential and declines to release the report. The matter is now outside my responsibilities.