HC Deb 06 July 1989 vol 156 cc263-4W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were arrested by personnel from the Ministry of Defence police acting in support of the Wiltshire constabulary on the morning of 21 June; and how many of those arrested were charged.

Mr. Sainsbury

Thirty-seven arrests were made by the Ministry of Defence police in the course of operations in support of the Wiltshire constabulary. None of those arrested has yet been charged.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of personnel from the Ministry of Defence police in support of the Wiltshire constabulary in operations in the area of Stonehenge on the morning of 21 June.

Mr. Sainsbury

In accordance with the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 section 2(2)(d), Ministry of Defence police officers deployed in support of the Wiltshire constabulary in response to the latter force's specific requests of assistance.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cost will be passed on to the Wiltshire constabulary for the use of personnel from the Ministry of Defence police on the morning of 21 June.

Mr. Sainsbury

Since members of the Ministry of Defence police were deployed in the Salisbury plain area in order to protect the property and other interests of my Department it would not be appropriate to make a charge for any assistance which was given to the Wiltshire constabulary in the course of those duties.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to his Department for the use of personnel under the control of his Department in support of the operations by the Wiltshire constabulary in the area of Stonehenge on the morning of 21 June.

Mr. Sainsbury

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of personnel from the Ministry of Defence police deployed in support of the Wiltshire constabulary on the morning of 21 June.

Mr. Sainsbury

Approximately 75 Ministry of Defence police officers gave assistance to the Wiltshire constabulary during the night of 20–21 June.