§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to the last letter, dated 1 February, concerning Mr. A. Benton, reference 30817/93.
§ Mr. MacleanThe West Midlands police are continuing to make detailed inquiries into Mr. Benton's representations of wrongful conviction. I understand from the chief constable that certain lines of inquiry are still outstanding, but that he hopes to submit a report of his inquiries shortly. Once that report is to hand and I have had a chance to consider all the evidence in the round, I will write to the hon. Member to say whether any grounds have been disclosed which would justify referring Mr. Benton's conviction back to the Court of Appeal.