§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a full statement on the actions and activities of the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary since its inception in 1975;
(2) if he will set out the number of arrests, detentions of suspects for questioning and the searchings of premises by the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary in each year since 1975.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constablulary (UKAEAC) was formed in April 1955 under authority conferred by the third schedule to the Atomic Energy Act 1954. It exists to police and protect establishments and materials of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL). Its duties include the control of access to establishments; crime prevention and detection; and escort duties relating to the movement of nuclear materials. Its actions and activities since 1975 as earlier, in pursuance of these responsibilities.
I am advised that the number of arrests and searches of premises in each year since 1975 were as follows:
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Arrests Searchings of Premises 1975 1 4 1976 2 1 1977 8 5 1978 11 10 1979 10 12 1980 14 8 No suspects were detained for questioning.
All the arrests were made at or in the vicinity of UKAEA or BNFL establishments and the arrested persons were transferred to the custody of the Home Department police forces of the areas where the establishments were located. The premises searched were those of employees of the UKAEA or BNFL, or employees of contractors of the UKAEA or BNFL.