HC Deb 25 March 1991 vol 188 cc271-2W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Attorney-General when his Department first became aware of the existence of documents relating to forensic tests carried out on 21 November 1974 on other ferry passengers besides the men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

The Attorney-General

The DPP first became aware of such a document on or shortly after 8 October 1987 when he received a written statement by a scientist dated 5 October 1987.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the statement taken by West Midlands police officers from the forensic scientist who conducted tests on passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry was not made available to representatives of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings before their appeal in November 1987.

The Attorney-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions has asked for a report covering the handling of this statement. I will write to the hon. Member in the light of that report.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the results of forensic tests carried out on passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry on 21 November 1974 were not made available to the defence at the trial of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

The Attorney-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions was not aware at the time of the trial that such tests had been carried out.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Attorney-General when the statement taken from the forensic scientist who tested the hands of passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, which has recently come to light, was taken by West Midlands police force officers; and what other statements were taken in 1987 by West Midlands police officers in relation to the Birmingham pub bombings case.

The Attorney-General

The first statement by the scientist was taken on 5 October 1987. A further statement was taken from him on 19 October 1987. As to other statements taken in 1987, I will write to the hon. Member giving him such particulars as I am able to provide having regard to the practice whereby the names of persons who have given written statements to the police in the course of their inquiries are held in confidence and are disclosed only to the parties to legal proceedings, unless the makers of the statements consent to wider disclosure.