§ Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, giving details of all surveillance equipment employed by the police at Wapping on 24 January.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner that three video cameras were used to assist the policing of the demonstration.
§ Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the 374W Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, listing the full dimensions and specifications, including weight, of all authorised weapons carried or used by officers, mounted or on foot, of the Metropolitan police on 24 January at Wapping.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner that the normal truncheons were carried by foot and mounted officers. Some foot officers drew and used their truncheons but no mounted officers did so. The truncheon carried by foot officers is 15½ ins. long and weighs about 10 oz. Mounted officers carry two truncheons. One is 3 ft. long and weighs 1 lb; the other is 12 ins. long and weighs 9 oz.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy over the future use of British Airways to return people deported from the United Kingdom following the privatisation of British Airways.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe have no plans to change the existing practice of using British airlines whenever possible, but will keep the matter under review.