§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for his inquiry into the leak of confidential Prison Service documents established on 12 July; if the inquiry team has power to examine the involvement of the intelligence services; and if he will place in the Library his letter to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe). [93528]
§ Mr. BoatengAn internal investigation into the loss of confidential information from Belmarsh prison was ordered by the Director of High Security Prisons on 14 July 1999, headed by the governor of Whitemoor prison.
A separate inquiry is being undertaken by the Metropolitan Police which has led to an arrest, but is still continuing. The Prison Service inquiry will not be completed until after any police matters are concluded to avoid jeopardising any legal proceedings.
A copy of the letter I sent to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 9 August about this matter has been placed in the Library.