Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Detective Superintendent McDonald's description of child abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath, Lord Bramall and Lord Brittan as "credible and true", and whether they have made representations to the Metropolitan Police Service that an apology should be issued regarding that statement.

The Government is clear that allegations of child abuse should be thoroughly and properly investigated. However decisions about arrest and charge are an operational matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service and it would be inappropriate for the Home Office to comment further.