HC Deb 01 April 1981 vol 2 cc122-3W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the annual report of the Ministry of Defence police is not available to the general public.

Mr. Goodhart

The annual report of the chief constable of the Ministry of Defence police is prepared for management purposes within the MOD, and is a classified document containing information of a restricted nature. It is therefore not made available to the general public.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the duties of the Ministry of Defence police.

Mr. Goodhart

The Ministry of Defence police is a statutory force of civilian police officers responsible for policing Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom. They deal with matters of security and where necessary control entry and exit. They regulate traffic on roads inside MOD establishments. As police officers, they are also required to prevent crime, especially theft of Government stores and offences such as criminal damage.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure on the Ministry of Defence police in each year since 1970.

Mr. Goodhart

Not all the expenditure incurred on the Ministry of Defence police is identified separately, and some costs are taken up by the various MOD establishments at which the members of the force serve. The bulk of the expenditure on the force arises from salary and associated costs of its members; the precise figures for those costs are available only for the last two financial years:

£ million
1979–80 31.367
1980–81 34.722

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current approved establishment of the Ministry of Defence police and the current actual strength; and what were the equivalent figures in 1970.

Mr. Goodhart

On 1 March 1981 the establishment of the Ministry of Defence police was 4,772 police officers, with a strength of 4,171. The MOD police was not formed until October 1971, when the corresponding figures were 4,829 and 4,239 respectively. Both the establishment and the strength of the force are currently being reduced as part of the Government's drive to reduce its total staff costs.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Ministry of Defence police at national headquarters, at Northern Area headquarters and at each group within that area, at Central Area headquarters and at each group within that area, at Western Area headquarters and at each group within that area and at Southern Area headquarters and at each group within that area.

Mr. Goodhart

It is not the practice to reveal details of the deployment and strengths of the various MDP stations and groups.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current staffing, intake and function of the Ministry of Defence police training school at Medmenham.

Mr. Goodhart

The Ministry of Defence police training school at Medmenham provides a variety of courses for members of the force. These include initial training courses for recruits, refresher courses for constables and sergeants, promotion courses and other police training. The total number of police officers attending residential course at the School in the calendar year 1980 was 951. The staff of the school at 31 March 1981 consisted of 18 police officers, 27 full-time and 12 part-time civilians.