---

Speaker's Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate

No. I am not going to give way any more. Last week, the Leader of the House implied that operational independence for the police meant that politicians could not direct them in their actions. I am not suggesting that they be directed. But they will not think any the worse of a Home Secretary who asks them awkward questions about what they are doing—questions such as, ““Is that a proportionate response?””, ““Have you consulted the Director of Public Prosecutions?”” and ““Have you applied for a warrant?”” Asking such questions is not improper interference with the operational independence of the police, but the proper exercise of scrutiny by the person responsible to the public for ensuring that the police are doing their job and keeping within the law in doing so.