asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached a decision on the proposal that a security expert should be appointed to his Prison Department, to make an independent check on the security arrangements in Her Majesty's Prisons.

I have decided to appoint Mr. R. C. Lewis to be adviser on prison security. He is at present a chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police and will be seconded to the Home Office on promotion to the rank of deputy commander.