§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the inquiries his Department has instigated which have been announced to the House since 1979.
§ Mr. Whitelaw[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1982, c. 21]: The readily available information relates only to inquiries announced in oral statements or in answers to Questions from hon. Members. The information is as follows.
Session 1979–80
Inquiry into the Tote.
Study of the implications of direct broadcasting by satellite.
Review of Civil defence.
Session 1980–81
Review of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. Review of procedures adopted in joint operations by the police and immigration service.
Mr. G. Fowler's inquiry into the escape of three prisoners from H.M. prison, Brixton on 16 December 1980.
Investigation into the possible fault in the reporting of information on acquittal rates for those pleading not guilty.
Lord Plowden's working party on the establishment of an independent element in the investigation of complaints.
Review of appeals under the Immigration Act 1971.
Review of police protective clothing and equipment.
Lord Scarman's inquiry into the Brixton disturbances, April 1981.
Re-examination of controls on the misuse of replica firearms
782Wquarterly: those for the period from 1 December 1981 to the end of the first quarter 1982 are given in the following table; figures for the second quarter of 1982 are net yet available.
in the aftermath of the Trooping of the Colour incident.
Review of the I.T.V. levy.
Inquiry by the Police Advisory Board working group into police complaints and discipline.
Session 1981–82
Review of the arrangements under which the police report convictions of people liable to deportation.
Study of racial attacks.
Review of the restrictions on prisoners' correspondence.
Mr. Byford's review of the handling of the Yorkshire Ripper investigation.
Review of the working of the Shops Act.
Inquiry by a Departmental working group into fine enforcement and waiting times in magistrates' courts.
Inquiry into certain matters relating to the 21st horserace betting levy scheme.
Review of the working of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976.
Study of ethnic minority recruitment to the police.
Inquiry into cable expansion and broadcasting policy.
Independent review of the radio spectrum (30–960 MHz) following the report of the mobile radio committee: "Terrestrial Land Mobile Services: Spectrum requirements and availability to the end of the century".
Inquiry by Lord Bridge into the appointment and activities of Commander Trestrail.
Inquiry into transmission standards for direct broadcasting by satellite.
Study by a working party into prosecution arrangements.
783WIn addition, I have frequently called for and received reports from chief officers of police. The information on these could be collated and listed only at disproportionate cost.