§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Midlothian on Monday 26 March, Official Report, column 40, why it is not appropriate to give hon. Members information contained in reports from chief constables about police presence at picket lines associated with the coal miners' dispute.
§ Mr. AncramChief constables' reports on policing matters are invariably provided on the understanding that they are for the information of my right hon. Friend and his Department. Although it would, therefore, not be appropriate to make available the reports on the policing of picketing, as requested in the hon. Member's earlier question, I shall continue to draw on them in answering specific questions.