§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the death in Long Lartin prison of Mr. Norman Manning; if he has established whether it was racially motivated; and if he will instigate further police investigations into the causes of his death.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
755WLetter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 16 February 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the death of Mr. Norman Manning in Long Lartin prison on 29 September last year.Mr. Manning's death was immediately reported to the police and their investigation started straight away. These inquiries are still in progress and as yet nobody has been charged with any offence. The conduct of the police investigation is a matter for the Chief Officer of the West Mercia Constabulary.I am unable to say whether or not further inquiries may be necessary, nor in these circumstances can I comment on the motive for the killing.