asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on allegations of torture and brutality at Broadmoor hospital.

In September it came to the notice of the Department that a young student nurse from Broadmoor hospital had made certain allegations about ill-treatment at that hospital, and he was accordingly interviewed by senior officers of the Department. He gave details of a small number of occasions when, he alleged, he had witnessed members of staff ill-treating patients. If these allegations are true, criminal offences may have been committed. Details of the allegations were therefore immediately passed to the Thames Valley constabulary which is investigating them.I have every confidence in the management of Broadmoor hospital.