Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the firearms evidence in the case of Paul Cleeland.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the firearms evidence in the case of Paul Cleeland.

Hansard will do it for me, but I am happy to write to my hon. Friend on those particular points that he has raised.

Hansard will do it for me, but I am happy to write to my hon. Friend on those particular points that he has raised.

I am more than happy to write to my hon. Friend following our search; I do not know about Hertfordshire police's search. We will do whatever we can. I cannot go ahead of that, before we understand whether we have it, but I am happy to write to my hon....

I am more than happy to write to my hon. Friend following our search; I do not know about Hertfordshire police's search. We will do whatever we can. I cannot go ahead of that, before we understand whether we have it, but I am happy to write to my hon....

I appreciate that the Minister is drawing to her conclusion. Would it be possible for her to write to me, following the debate, on the points that she has raised about the review of the test, the location of the Boothby report and whether that can be made available, so...

I appreciate that the Minister is drawing to her conclusion. Would it be possible for her to write to me, following the debate, on the points that she has raised about the review of the test, the location of the Boothby report and whether that can be made available, so...

It was brought to my officials' attention yesterday that the issue would be raised. The whereabouts of the report was discussed with the Hertfordshire police. We understand from them that Mr Cleeland's solicitor has requested the report and that they are trying to locate a copy so that they can...

It was brought to my officials' attention yesterday that the issue would be raised. The whereabouts of the report was discussed with the Hertfordshire police. We understand from them that Mr Cleeland's solicitor has requested the report and that they are trying to locate a copy so that they can...

The Minister said that both Hertfordshire police and the Home Office will try to locate a copy of the Boothby report and see if that can be made available to Mr Cleeland. I would appreciate it if the Minister could write to me following the search for the report to...

The Minister said that both Hertfordshire police and the Home Office will try to locate a copy of the Boothby report and see if that can be made available to Mr Cleeland. I would appreciate it if the Minister could write to me following the search for the report to...

Am I misunderstanding my hon. Friend?

Am I misunderstanding my hon. Friend?

Mr Cleeland has confirmed to me that they do not have possession of the report. They never have had possession of it, despite what was said at the Court of Appeal. Certainly the report is not in his hands at all. Therefore if the Minister could deliver that report—make it...

Mr Cleeland has confirmed to me that they do not have possession of the report. They never have had possession of it, despite what was said at the Court of Appeal. Certainly the report is not in his hands at all. Therefore if the Minister could deliver that report—make it...

My concern is that there was knowledge of the limitations of the test, yet evidence was presented from it in a court that suggested that there was no ambiguity at all and that it could be safely relied upon, whereas academic papers that were in the possession of the Metropolitan...

My concern is that there was knowledge of the limitations of the test, yet evidence was presented from it in a court that suggested that there was no ambiguity at all and that it could be safely relied upon, whereas academic papers that were in the possession of the Metropolitan...

My hon. Friend is saying that since the relevant time, new evidence has come to light that casts doubt on all this, and has requested a review. What I can offer is this. I can ask the forensic science regulator, Andrew Rennison, to consider this type of evidence. I cannot...

My hon. Friend is saying that since the relevant time, new evidence has come to light that casts doubt on all this, and has requested a review. What I can offer is this. I can ask the forensic science regulator, Andrew Rennison, to consider this type of evidence. I cannot...

Indeed, but I notice that in terms of the specific case, the forensic test was one of the 20 grounds of appeal considered by the Court of Appeal in 2002, when Mr Cleeland's conviction was upheld. The understanding was that electron microscopic testing had not then been developed within the...

Indeed, but I notice that in terms of the specific case, the forensic test was one of the 20 grounds of appeal considered by the Court of Appeal in 2002, when Mr Cleeland's conviction was upheld. The understanding was that electron microscopic testing had not then been developed within the...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way again; she is being very generous. What I said was not that the test is unsound for detecting the presence of lead, but that it is not a safe test for detecting firearms residue.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way again; she is being very generous. What I said was not that the test is unsound for detecting the presence of lead, but that it is not a safe test for detecting firearms residue.

On the case itself, I would then make this suggestion—I am not able to give legal advice; I am not a lawyer in any sense. I would have thought that if there is new evidence, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is the body that should seek another judicial stage, if...

On the case itself, I would then make this suggestion—I am not able to give legal advice; I am not a lawyer in any sense. I would have thought that if there is new evidence, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is the body that should seek another judicial stage, if...

As I said in my speech, the Metropolitan police manual for 1980 has come to light only recently and subsequent to some of the appeals; and, indeed, the evidence that I have obtained via the Home Office, which cites academic papers dating back to the 1960s, has not previously been...

As I said in my speech, the Metropolitan police manual for 1980 has come to light only recently and subsequent to some of the appeals; and, indeed, the evidence that I have obtained via the Home Office, which cites academic papers dating back to the 1960s, has not previously been...

It is a pleasure to stand before you this afternoon, Mr Hollobone. In case I forget, I wish you a merry Christmas now. Let me turn to the serious nature of the case in front of us. First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian...

It is a pleasure to stand before you this afternoon, Mr Hollobone. In case I forget, I wish you a merry Christmas now. Let me turn to the serious nature of the case in front of us. First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I applied for this debate because a constituent has brought to my attention a case in which forensic evidence that was presented to achieve his conviction for murder has been proven to be unreliable. That constituent is Mr Paul...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I applied for this debate because a constituent has brought to my attention a case in which forensic evidence that was presented to achieve his conviction for murder has been proven to be unreliable. That constituent is Mr Paul...

Letter dated 12/12/2011 from Lord McNally to Baroness Thomas of Winchester regarding Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12. 4 docs.

Letter dated 12/12/2011 from Lord McNally to Baroness Thomas of Winchester regarding Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12. 4 docs.

Dear Colleague letter dated 12/12/2011 from Lord McNally regarding LAPSO Bill: response to Second Reading. Incl. annex. 16 p.

Dear Colleague letter dated 12/12/2011 from Lord McNally regarding LAPSO Bill: response to Second Reading. Incl. annex. 16 p.

My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Kenneth Clarke) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Government set out their intention to introduce competition for the procurement of legally aided services in Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales...

My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Kenneth Clarke) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Government set out their intention to introduce competition for the procurement of legally aided services in Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales...

The Government set out their intention to introduce competition for the procurement of legally aided services in ““Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales”” (November 2010). The consultation paper stated that the immediate focus would be on criminal legal aid, with civil and family legal aid...

The Government set out their intention to introduce competition for the procurement of legally aided services in ““Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales”” (November 2010). The consultation paper stated that the immediate focus would be on criminal legal aid, with civil and family legal aid...