§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police were allocated to guard Alexander Shelepin and his party during their recent visit to Great Britain; and at what cost to the public;
(2) what he estimates the total cost to the British taxpayer was of the visit of Alexander Shelepin and his party to Great Britain.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave this afternoon in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman).
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether licences for the carrying of guns were issued to Russian bodyguards of Alexander Shelepin and his party; and if so by whom.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI explained the practice of chief officers of police in my reply to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend on 20th March—[Vol. 888, Cols.534–5]— but it would not be in the interests of security to publish specific information about particular cases.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when were visas, valid for the 30th March, issued to Alexander Shelepin and his party.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsVisas were issued in Moscow on 21st March and were valid for use from that date.
§ Dr. Boysonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what 440W was the cost of providing police escorts to Mr. Shelepin during his recent visit.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsPolice escorts, as such, were not provided during the visit. On the cost incurred by the police in connection with the visit I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave this afternoon in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman).