To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his actions in relation to the investigation by West Mercia police into the case of Hilda Murrell.

As I informed the hon. Gentleman on 6 September, the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that the available evidence in this case is insufficient to sustain a charge of murder against any person and has notified the chief constable of West Mercia accordingly. My own actions have been restricted to answering the hon. Gentleman's questions regarding the matter and writing to him to inform him of the Director's decision.

May I ask the Attorney-General a careful question of which I have given him notice? In the light of the convictions of Mr. McKenzie in respect of two murders based on his own confessions, why has the decision been taken not to prosecute him for the alleged murder of Hilda Murrell based on his own confession?

Mr. McKenzie was convicted of manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility, not of murder. The convictions are currently the subject of an appeal by Mr. McKenzie and are therefore sub judice. In the Murrell case further lines of inquiry suggested by the Director of Public Prosecutions did not produce evidence warranting the prosecution of Mr. McKenzie.

Does the insufficiency of the evidence mean that the police are therefore looking for another suspect?

It means that there is no evidence sufficient to warrant a prosecution against anybody and, therefore, the case remains open.