§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dog handlers and dogs are currently working in the prison dogs section; what tasks they undertake; and how many dogs are trained in the detection of(a) explosives and (b) illicit drugs.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about dog handlers and dogs in the Prison Service.There are 426 dog handlers and 463 dogs in the Prison Service. Patrol dogs undertake tasks such as patrol duties, escorting prisoners, searching for missing property (eg. escape equipment) searching for and detecting would-be escapers and apprehending them. They can also be used to safeguard the perimeter or for control in prison disturbances.72 dogs are trained to detect arms and explosives (no dogs are trained to detect explosives only); 101 dogs are trained to detect illicit drugs.