§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement regarding the obstruction by her officials of the media during the ministerial visit to Birmingham to inspect premises used as homes for former mental patients.
§ Dr. OwenNeither I nor my officials obstructed, or instructed the police to obstruct, representatives of the media during my visit to Birmingham on 3rd March. When I discovered what had inadvertently occurred I apologised personally to the reporters for the inconvenience caused to them.