HC Deb 03 May 1988 vol 132 cc433-4W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what Home Office guidelines exist for police authorities or regional crime squads for rewarding informants(a) who are suspected of having committed a related criminal offence and (b) who are not so suspected;

(2) what percentage of all public funds spent on rewarding informants with knowledge of drug-smuggling operations is provided out of (a) national and (b) local funds;

(3) to what extent police forces provide protection and livelihood for police informants after they have finished co-operating with the police; and whether such protection and livelihood is arranged outside Britain;

(4) what sum is set aside each year by (a) his Department and (b) police authorities by authority for the rewarding of informants with knowledge of drug-smuggling operations;

(5) what amount of public funds was spent on rewarding drug informants for information in each year from 1980 to 1987.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There is no central fund for the payment of informants and information about payments to informants in relation to drug smuggling offences is not available. The handling, protection and payment of

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist at ports to forestall the use of passports lost by passport offices.

Mr. Renton

Security features are incorporated in United Kingdom passports to ensure that any attempts to facilitate their use by another person, through alteration of personal details or substitution of photographs, will be readily apparent on examination of the document at United Kingdom ports of entry.