asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Criminal Investigation Department experience called for by his Department from candidates for a post advertised in The Guardian as a key investigatory and liaison role with a team undertaking investigations in connection with the Department's responsibility under the Abortion Act is a new qualification; how many of the existing team have this experience; and why it is necessary for candidates to have been police officers.

CID experience is directly relevant to the work to be undertaken. It has always been required for appointment to the team of investigators set up in 1971 to counter abuses of the 1967 Abortion Act.