§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorse Her Honour;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Surrey on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorse Flash of Straw at Yarmouth in 1992;
(3) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the doping of the racehorses Norwich and Bravefoot at Doncaster in 1990;
(4) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the doping of the racehorse Flash of Straw at Yarmouth in 1992;
(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorses Norwich and Bravefoot at Doncaster in 1990;
(6) what proposals he has to amend the law relating to the doping of racehorses for gain;
(7) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the recent doping of the racehorse Her Honour.
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§ Mr. Peter LloydI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to his questions on 15 March at column 43.
I have no plans to call for reports from the police.
As to the law, there is no offence of illegal doping as such. The question of criminal charges would be a matter for the prosecuting authorities, depending on the circumstances of the case.