HC Deb 08 December 1981 vol 14 cc335-6W
Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police, division L, Lambeth, was excluded from special study by the Home Office study "Racial Attacks".

Mr. Whitelaw

The areas for special study in the Metropolitan Police district were selected in early May to provide a reasonable cross-section. It would not have been right to have imposed any additional burden on the police in L district at that time.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in his Department, with what rank and position in each case, were engaged on the Home Office study which was published in the report "Racial Attacks".

Mr. Whitelaw

A large number of Home Office officials were engaged on this study at its different stages. There were six principal members of the study team: two assistant secretaries, and a principal from the police department, and an assistant secretary, principal and HEO(A) from the community programmes and equal opportunities department.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, column 477, what factors he took into consideration in deciding not to publish the evidence for the statements in paragraphs 62 and 74 of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks" relating to hon. Members and prominent public figures.

Mr. Whitelaw

Information about individuals was given in confidence.