§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of maintaining the Interpol Bureau in Scotland Yard; and what contribution is made by the United Kingdom to the running of the international headquarters of Interpol.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe annual cost of maintaining the National Central Bureau of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) is at present approximately £430,000. The United Kingdom contribution towards the costs of the general secretariat of Interpol was £96,655 in 1976.
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring is done of the activities of Interpol in the United Kingdom; and what methods of supervision or control over the international activities of Interpol are available to national Governments.
§ Dr. SummerskillRequests for information or assistance from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) are sent to the National Central Bureau at New Scotland Yard which is manned by British police officers. The bureau is under the administrative control of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis who is responsible for the work of its staff. The international activities of the general secretariat of Interpol are determined by the decisions of the annual general assembly which consists of representatives of police forces of all member countries. The British police representative keeps in close touch with my Department. We are satisfied that these arrangements are adequate in keeping Her Majesty's Government aware of the policies and work of the organisation as they affect this country.
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§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information made by Interpol to Great Britain police authorities (a) concern people with no criminal record, (b) do not specify the purpose for which the information requested is to be used and (c) do not identify the person or authority requesting the information.
§ Dr. SummerskillI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that requests for information are received about a range of individuals, including missing persons or those arrested abroad, who may or may not have criminal records. The figures requested at (a) are not, therefore, available. As regards (b) and (c), the answer in both cases is "None".
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an inquiry on the activities of Interpol on the same lines of that of the General Accounts Office of the United States of America.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo.