TNAG-1144-FCO40-1424-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 10

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criminal proceedings against any police officer. I have Self considered that evidence and agree with the Director's decision.

Law Officers (Contacts)

Mr. Dalyell asked the Attorney-General what routine contacts take place between the Law Officers' Department and the law officers of United Kingdom dependent territories such as the Falkland Islands.

The Attorney-General: There are no arrangements for direct routine contacts between my Department and the Law Officers of dependent territories. But the Solicitor General and I, and our officials, are always ready, in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to exchange views with the Law Officers of dependent territories and to talk with them, when they are in London, on any matters on which they think our views can be of help to them.

Abortion (Prosecutions)

Mr. Marlow asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have there been for offences relating to abortion in the last 12 months.

The Attorney-General: To my knowledge, there have been no prosecutions relating to abortion in the last 12 months.

Charity Commissioners

Mr. Les Huckfield asked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will seek to amend the law relating to charities to enable him to direct the Charity Commissioners to conduct investigations and inquiries into the finances and administration of major charities.

Mr. Raison: I have been asked to reply. No.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Hypnotism

Mr. Lawrence asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the use of hypnotism as an aid to the questioning of witnesses in criminal cases.

Mr. Whitelaw: My Department is aware of the growing interest of the police service in the forensic use of hypnosis and last year held a seminar on the subject attended by representatives of the police service and professional bodies. It is clear that the use of hypnosis on witnesses as an aid to criminal investigation has limitations and drawbacks, particularly as the evidential value of information gained under hypnosis may be open to question. I am therefore actively considering the issue of guidance to chief officers of police on this matter. My Department will be consulting chief officers and professional bodies on the terms of such guidance, which will draw attention to the limitations of the forensic use of hypnosis and suggest firm safeguards for its use. I shall announce my conclusions in due course.

Mr. Sammy Zalabany

Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Sammy Zalabany, an

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Egyptian citizen, of Widmore Drive, Hemel Hempstead, was premitted to enter the United Kingdom; for what reason permission was granted; and when his permission to remain in the United Kingdom was most recently reviewed.

Mr. Raison: Mr. Zalabany first entered the United Kingdom on 9 March 1974 as a visitor. He was granted settlement in March 1975 following his marriage to a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies born and living in this country. His leave to remain in the United Kingdom was reviewed in August this year but no change has been made in his status.

Refusals of Entry

Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons frm the Asian sub- continent were refused entry to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Mr. Raison: Refusals of leave to enter the United Kingdom are published annually by citizen-

in ship-nationality

"Control of immigration: statistics"-Tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the issue for 1981 (Cmnd. 8533).

Medical Data (Police Access)

Dr. Roger Thomas asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why manually kept confidential records are not to be included in proposed legislative measures to ensure the confidentiality of stored medical data; and what steps he proposes to record police access to such records.

Mr. Raison: The background to the Government's proposals for legislation to protect automatically processed personal data was set out in the White Paper published last April (Cmnd. 9539). A Bill will be introduced this Session.

Diplomatic Immunity

Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what and how many offences, were alleged to have been committed so far in the current year by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; if any cases were proceeded with; and if any of the alleged offenders are still in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mayhew: The numbers of offences alleged to have been committed, and for which reports have so far been received from the police, is shown in the following table. Twenty-nine of the 140 persons entitled to claim diplomatic immunity who were suspected of involvement in these offences have since left the United Kingdom. There have been no criminal proceedings in connection with any of these alleged offences.

Offences alleged to have been committed by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity: 1 January 1982 to 17 November 1982

Violence against the person

Offences against the Theft Act 1968 (including

shoplifting)

Drink offences (eg drunk and disorderly) Road traffic offences involving drink

Other road traffic offences* Firearms offences Sexual offences

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