§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to Operation Care how many complaints have been received from how many complainants. [100232]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information on the number of claimants is not readily available. The number of complaints received reflects each separate complaint rather than the number of individuals who claim to have been abused. As of 8 July 1999, the number of separate complaints received was 759.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings his Department has held with members of the legal profession involved in Operation Care. [100235]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand that there have been no meetings between Home Office officials and members of the legal profession involved in Operation Care.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defence witnesses have been arrested as part of Operation Care. [100233]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThere is no requirement in law for the defence to provide either the Crown Prosecution Service or the police with lists of defence witnesses at any stage of an investigation. I cannot say therefore whether any individual arrested as part of Operation Care might also be a defence witness.