HC Deb 10 November 1998 vol 319 cc120-1W
Sir Norman Fowler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information was passed by Home Office(a) Ministers and (b) officials to the Prime Minister's Office prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59278]

Mr. Straw

When the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, told me in a telephone call shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October, that Mr. Davies had been involved in an incident, I passed that on in a telephone conversation to the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Mr. Jonathan Powell. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other business and looked in on me. During that meeting, Mr. Stevens also spoke on the telephone to Mr. Powell. 1 cannot properly disclose the contents of the conversations because of the risk of prejudicing any criminal proceedings. At that stage, the police had not taken a formal statement from Mr. Davies and we were talking only about the initial information which was available and lines of inquiry which were being followed by the police.

Sir Norman Fowler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what briefing was received by(a) him and (b) Home Office (i) Ministers and (ii) officials from the Metropolitan Police before 11.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October, regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59279]

Mr. Straw

The first information provided to Ministers or officials at the Home Office was given by the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, when he spoke to me on the telephone shortly after 10.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other business and he looked in on me. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. David Omand, attended that meeting, which took place before 11.00 am.