§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to order a searching review of the case of Derek Bentley to deal with all outstanding issues of public concern and following the review, consider the appropriateness of recommending a posthumous free pardon. [24901]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerI am aware of no present grounds for a further review of this case, which was very thoroughly reviewed in 1991 and 1992.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library full details of investigations carried out by the police at the request of the Home Office and other relevant documents relating to the case of Derek Bentley. [24903]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerPolice reports are confidential documents which do not fall to be disclosed. A memorandum was published on 1 October 1992, however, explaining in detail the decision then reached that there were no grounds for recommending the grant of a posthumous free pardon to Derek Bentley. This dealt among other things with the alleged inconsistencies in evidence. A copy of the memorandum was placed in the Library.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what terms of reference were set by his Department for the investigation of the Derek Bentley case by the Metropolitan police requested by his predecessor in 1991; and what reports were subsequently submitted to his Department. [24923]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Home Office wrote to the Metropolitan police in August 1991 asking for inquiries to be carried out into certain matters which had been presented to the Home Office by Thames Television and others. The police submitted two reports in October and December 1991.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will arrange the release of full details of investigations by the police ordered by his predecessors into the case of Derek Bentley; [24902]
364W(2) if he will review his Department's papers relating to the Derek Bentley case with a view to fulfilling precisely the legal requirements for disclosure of papers and investigations undertaken by, or on behalf of, himself or his predecessors. [24900]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerFollowing a request by solicitors for the family of the late Derek Bentley, we are examining our papers with a view to making appropriate disclosures in full compliance with the Hickey judgment as soon as possible. Such disclosure to affected parties and their legal representatives is not constrained by the provisions of the Public Records Acts which govern the opening of records to the public.