Orgreave Inquiry. Read indexed debates, questions, statements and early day motions, with links to the original parliamentary records.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee on evidence pertaining to Orgreave, for what reasons it will take up to six months to release the 30 remaining Home Office files to th
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department assessed the evidence held by South Yorkshire Police on its operations at Orgreave during the Miners' Strike in 1984 before making a decision on whether to hold an inquiry into
The Home Office did not review files or assess evidence held by South Yorkshire Police.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list the documents that her Department considered prior to her decision not to pursue an inquiry into alleged South Yorkshire police malpractice at Orgreave in 1984.
The Home Secretary’s decision not to establish an inquiry or independent review into the events at Orgreave Coking Plant was based on a number of factors, including consideration of the key purposes of an inquiry and whether these were met in the case of Orgreave. As part of this consideration, the Home Secretary reviewed a range of relevant documentation.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will release all Cabinet papers relating to events at Orgreave in 1984.
All Cabinet papers from this period, including all minutes of Cabinet meetings and all papers discussed by the Cabinet, were transferred to the National Archives in 2014 under the normal process for historic records. They can be downloaded from their website.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which files and documents she reviewed before making her decision not to proceed with an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984.
The Home Secretary’s decision not to establish an inquiry or independent review into the events at Orgreave Coking Plant was based on a number of factors, including consideration of the key purposes of an inquiry and whether these were met in the case of Orgreave.
As part of this consideration, the Home Secretary reviewed a range of relevant documentation.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will release all Cabinet papers relating to events at Orgreave in 1984.
Cabinet Papers are a matter for the Cabinet Office.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Answer of 31 October 2016, Official Report, columns 645-6, when the operational order of the day will be released.
The Home Office does not hold the information which you have requested. Decisions on operational policing matters are a matter for the respective police force(s) involved and it is not common practice for their operational orders to be submitted to the Home Office or other Government departments.
As the Home Secretary told the House on 31 October, the Police & Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Police is considering how the force’s papers relating to Orgreave should be released.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to establish a public inquiry into events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984.
Following the request from the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign for an Inquiry or independent review into the events that occurred at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984, I have today issued a Written Ministerial Statement setting out my decision. I have concluded that there is no case for either a statutory inquiry or an independent review.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Independent Police Complaints Commission on its decision not to make public the report into allegations of police misconduct at Orgreave in 1984.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales. It is operationally independent of the police, government and complainants, and makes its decisions independently and free from political influence. The Home Office has therefore had no discussions with the IPCC concerning its decision not to make public the report into allegations of police misconduct at Orgreave in 1984.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Prime Minister will meet members of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign to discuss the Independent Police Complaints Commission's decision not to make public the report into allegations of police misconduct at Orgreave in 1984.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales. It is operationally independent of the police, government and complainants, and makes its decisions independently and free from political influence. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to discuss the IPCC’s decision. The Home Secretary does though plan to meet members of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign immediately after the summer recess to discuss their case on the need for an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 11 May 2016, Official Report, column 627, when she plans to decide whether to launch an independent panel hearing into the policing of
I am currently considering a submission from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign on the need for an inquiry into the events at Orgreave and will set out the Government's position in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a public inquiry related to the miners' strike and events at Orgreave in 1984.
I am currently considering a submission from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign containing their extensive and detailed arguments for establishing a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave and will set out the Government’s position in the near future.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish an independent panel or an independent public inquiry into events at Orgreave in June 1984.
On 21 July 2015 the Home Secretary met a group of MPs, a Welsh Assembly Member, Michael Mansfield QC and members of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC), led by Louise Haigh MP, to discuss their calls for a public inquiry to be established following the publication of the IPCC scoping review into the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984.
Following this meeting, on 15 December 2015 the Home Secretary received a submission from the OTJC containing their arguments for establishing a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave. That 85 page submission raises a range of extensive issues which the Home Secretary is currently considering fully and in detail before responding. She will set out the Government’s position in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the implications are for her Department's policies of the legal submission given to her on 15 December 2015 by the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign on the confrontation between police and miners at Orgreave in June 1984.
On 21 July 2015 the Home Secretary met a group of MPs, a Welsh Assembly Member, Michael Mansfield QC and members of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC), led by Louise Haigh MP, to discuss their calls for a public inquiry to be established following the publication of the IPCC scoping review into the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984.
Following this meeting, on 15 December 2015 the Home Secretary received a submission from the OTJC containing their arguments for establishing a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave. That 85 page submission raises a range of extensive issues which the Home Secretary is currently considering fully and in detail before responding. She will set out the Government’s position in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on an inquiry into the events of Orgreave in 1984; and if she will make a statement.
The Secretary of State has not received any recent representations. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed an assessment of matters arising from the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984 and made decisions about whether any matters should be investigated. Having considered legal advice, the IPCC has decided not to publish the decision at this stage. As the IPCC is an independent organisation the Government has no control or influence over the date of publication of its findings. It would be premature to decide whether any further investigation is necessary in advance of publication of the IPCC’s decision.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has for an inquiry into the events of Orgreave in 1984.
The Secretary of State has not received any recent representations. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed an assessment of matters arising from the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984 and made decisions about whether any matters should be investigated. Having considered legal advice, the IPCC has decided not to publish the decision at this stage. As the IPCC is an independent organisation the Government has no control or influence over the date of publication of its findings. It would be premature to decide whether any further investigation is necessary in advance of publication of the IPCC’s decision.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to coalfield communities to help develop new businesses; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be created as a result of such initiatives.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has funded the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Coalfields Enterprise and Growth Funds and the Homes and Communities Agency’s coalfield projects. Based on information provided by these sources, 38 businesses have been developed and over 25,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has a history of supporting communities through the provision of training and health programmes, community assets, and small grants. Going forward, they have been allowed to invest in property assets to generate income and growth. They will also be providing small start-up loans and supporting people to make the most of employment opportunities.
We have created Enterprise Zones in former a number of former coalfield areas – in Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Kent and the Tees Valley – all helping to create growth in former Coalfield communities. For example, the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone aims to create 14,000 jobs by 2020 and has sites on former collieries. The Orgreave colliery and coking plant is now transformed into a centre for advanced manufacturing and Markham Vale is benefitting from capital grant funding to develop the successful business park. The Government has invested nearly £12 million into local infrastructure - £1.8 million investment in Sheffield Business Park Phase 2 and £10 million in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will request the Independent Police Complaints Commission announces when it plans to report on its investigations into the actions of the South Yorkshire Police at Orgreave coke works in 1984.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed its assessment of matters arising from the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984 and is currently obtaining legal advice regarding the publication of the outcome of its assessment.
This has been a very complex exercise which has required the in-depth analysis of a vast amount of documentation from over 30 years ago. As the IPCC is an independent organisation the Government has no control or influence over the
date of publication of its findings.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on the reasons why the Independent Police Complaints Commission has not published its report on the actions of South Yorkshire Police at Orgreave coke works in 1984.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed its assessment of matters arising from the policing of events at Orgreave in 1984 and is currently obtaining legal advice regarding the publication of the outcome of its assessment.
This has been a very complex exercise which has required the in-depth analysis of a vast amount of documentation from over 30 years ago. As the IPCC is an independent organisation the Government has no control or influence over the
date of publication of its findings.