§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute changes in the procedures for investigating requests for criminal cases to be reopened so that they can be dealt with by senior officials quickly, effectively and publicly; if he will prohibit selective communication between his Department and others on these requests; and if he will ensure that authorized 520W solicitors are given all the information they request, unless there is an established legitimate reason for withholding it.
§ Mr. BrittanThe procedure which will be followed in examining suggestions of a miscarriage of justice is broadly set out in the Reply (Cmnd. 8856) to the Sixth Report of the Home Affairs Committee in the 1981–82 Session. It is often necessary (for example, in order to ascertain the information which was available to support the prosecution) for the Home Office to consult other Departments. Any requests by solicitors for information will be considered carefully and sympathetically.