§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following his statement that he was willing to answer questions about police operations, he will now make it the policy to answer questions referring to the day-to-day operations of the Metropolitan police.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe reply that I gave to the hon. Gentleman's question on 18 November 1982—[Vol. 32, c. 291–92]—referred to matters within my departmental responsibility. It has been the practice of successive Home Secretaries, after consulting the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, to report to the House appropriately on operational matters of major public interest affecting the Metropolitan police; but questions relating to the day-to-day operations of the force are for the Commissioner.