Operation Conifer: Sir Edward Heath - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:52 pm on 18 December 2018.

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Photo of Baroness Barran Baroness Barran Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) 2:52, 18 December 2018

I thank my noble friend for his question and respect the strength of feeling that he has on this matter. However, he is aware that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has already set out his reasoning for not instituting an inquiry, in his letter to the noble Lord, Lord Armstrong, of 10 October. To recap on that: he has considered carefully the proper role of the Government in what is clearly a very sensitive matter; he notes the extensive scrutiny to which Operation Conifer has already been subject; he points out the national guidance that is being reviewed by the College of Policing; and, most importantly I think, he reflects that the inconclusive nature of Operation Conifer cannot be resolved in the absence of Sir Edward’s account of these events—that cannot be resolved.