HL Deb 19 May 1993 vol 545 cc90-1WA
Lord Harris of Greenwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report of the Home Office inquiry into allegations involving a remand prisoner, Mr. James Hogg, while in the custody of employees of Group Four.

Earl Ferrers

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Prison Service Agency and its Director General, Mr. Derek Lewis. The agency has therefore responded to the question, and its letter is given below.

Letter from Mr. Derek Lewis, Director General, Prison Service Agency, to Lord Harris of Greenwich, dated 19th May 1993:

Lord Ferrers has asked me to reply directly to your Question about the report of the Home Office inquiry into the death of Mr. Ernest James Hogg.

I have asked Mr. Alex Marnoch, a former Commander in the Metropolitan Police, to carry out an inquiry into the circumstances of Mr. Hogg's death. This will enable any necessary steps to be taken to prevent a recurrence of any problems identified.

The Humberside Police are undertaking an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Hogg's death, and I understand that an inquest is to be held. Mr. Marnoch's report is not yet complete and when it is I shall need to consider whether it would be appropriate to place it in the Library of the House at that time, or whether its publication in that way might cause the police inquiry and the inquest to be prejudiced.

I am sorry that I cannot give a more helpful answer at this stage.