§ Mr. Lyellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to publish a revised edition of the draft codes of practice on the treatment, questioning and identification of persons suspected of crime, published last November.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have placed in the Library and in the Vote Office copies of a revised edition of the draft codes which I would be empowered to issue under the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill. The revised edition takes account of the views expressed within and outside Parliament on the draft codes whose publication I announced on 18 November last year.
I am grateful to all those private individuals and bodies who have considered and commented on the draft codes. The comments received have helped us to improve them.
I shall, of course, continue to keep the drafts under review in the light of the views expressed during the progress of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill. Before exercising the powers conferred on me to issue codes of practice I would in addition undertake further consultations.
436WCopies of the revised draft codes are available on request from Room 530, Home Office, Queen Anne's gate, London, SW1H 9AT.