§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the discovery on 12 May of files of criminal records scattered in the streets in East Ham, London, including white cards containing details of persons names, addresses and convictions, which were picked up in the streets by children, whether he will arrange for an investigation to be made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrittanI understand that a small batch of index cards, used to identify files, was stolen from the local office of the north-east London probation and after-care service. Files were not stolen. We are asking the probation and after-care committee to review, in conjunction with the chief probation officer, the security of records within its offices.