Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire regarding (1) the investigation by Wiltshire Police into the allegations brought against Sir Edward Heath, and (2) the extent to which the Commissioner carried out his statutory responsibilities.

How an individual force conducts an investigation is a matter for the relevant Chief Officer. It is for locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to hold their Chief Officers to account for the operational delivery of policing.

If they deem it appropriate in exercising this duty, PCCs are able to commission a review into an investigation. It would not be right for the Government to seek to intervene in, or influence, the exercise of these functions.