asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the investigation he has ordered into the case of Mr. Dougherty, whose conviction was quashed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dougherty was convicted on 22nd February 1973 of shoplifting. His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal on 14th March 1974 after my predecessor had referred the case to the court under Section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968.Following representations by Justice on Mr. Dougherty's behalf, the Chief Constable of Durham arranged for a senior officer of the Northumberland Constabulary to make a full inquiry into the circumstances in which Mr. Dougherty was charged. The implications of the report of that inquiry, and a number of other issues which arise from the case, are being carefully studied.