§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the commissioning of medical studies regarding the safety and effectiveness of vehicle mounted or fence or perimeter mounted electro-shock devices.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Home Office has no plans to commission such studies.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements are made between his Department and private companies or individuals to lease or rent electro-shock equipment;
(2) if he will make a statement on the holding of stocks of electro-shock devices by his Department;
(3) how many United Kingdom police forces hold supplies of electro-shock shields of electro-shock batons;
(4) what information he has of fatalities attributable to the use of electro-shock devices;
(5) how many United Kingdom, military, security or police personnel have attended training or instruction courses in the use of electro-shock devices with overseas manufacturers or suppliers.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Home Office does not hold stocks of this equipment nor is it party to any leasing or rental agreements with third parties. Information concerning the number of police forces holding supplies of electro-shock shields or batons is not held centrally. As I made clear in my written answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 383, some forces have obtained electro-shock equipment only to protect officers against ferocious dogs in pre-planned operations. The Home Office has no details of fatalities from the use of electro-shock devices. I have no knowledge of any staff in Home Office areas of responsibility attending manufacturers' or suppliers' training courses in the use of such equipment.