§ Mr. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the strength of the Atomic Energy Authority special constables for each year from 1975 to 1980, and make a statement on the reasons for any increase or decrease.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe strengths of the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary (AEAC) for the years in question are:
Number 1975 376 1976 435 1977 469 1978 512 1979 516 1980 589 During the debates in the House in 1976 on the Atomic Energy Authority (Special Constables) Bill, the then Secretary of State explained that the Government had concluded that protection of special nuclear material, both on sites and in transit should be strengthened in a number of ways. This led to additional commitments being placed on the AEAC for the protection of AEA and BNFL sites and special nuclear materials in transit. The increase in numbers was necessary for these commitments to be met.