HC Deb 14 July 1994 vol 246 cc760-1W
Mr. Brandreth

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer), of 15 December 1993,Official Report, columns 738–39, whether he is in a position to publish the report of the Ministry of Defence Police study team led by Sir John Blelloch.

Mr. Hanley

Sir John Blelloch's study team was set up at the end of 1993 to review the roles, aims, objectives, structure, pay and conditions of the Ministry of Defence Police, MDP. This work has now been completed and I am placing a copy of the final report in the Libraries of the House.

The report recommends criteria for my Department's consideration for determining the circumstances in which an MDP presence at defence establishments would be likely to be justified by the MDP's constabulary capability or by its ability to meet armed tasks.

The report predicts that the MDP will continue to provide an essential in-house constabulary capability, and that if the MDP were to reduce in size, it would then focus more precisely on tasks requiring constabulary powers. It further concludes that the requirement for such powers needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis. The study team considered various alternatives to the MDP in those of its armed roles which do not require a constabulary capability, and concluded that the use of regular service personnel on new military home service engagements, MHSE, or on local service engagements, LSE, was an option which deserved further study.

Subject to further scrutiny, the report supports existing proposals to change the structure of the MDP to a two-tier one, comprising headquarters and basic command units. It recommends continued study of the MDP's headquarters arrangements, its training organisation, CID, operational support unit and dog services.

The report recommends that the MDP's pay should continue to be linked with that of the Home Department police and that their new pay structure should be used as a basis for determining MDP pay. It also makes recommendations on how the chief constable's pay should be assessed. The report also makes proposals for overtime, rest day and public holiday working reflecting the new Home Department police arrangements, and it also recommends rostering on a "best practices" basis, and that retirement ages and pension arrangements should be reviewed in the light of any further changes to provisions for Home Department police.

Finally, the report proposes that consideration be given to extending and clarifying the MDP's jurisdiction when a suitable opportunity arises.

The report's conclusions are now being carefully considered by my Department and further work has been set in hand where this has been proposed, such as establishing the total requirement for armed guarding and armed security tasks and for a dedicated constabulary presence; completion of the validation of the MHSE/LSE concept; and to complete certain other studies which could affect the organisations dealing with policing and security within my Department.

No conclusions have been reached and further announcements will be made in due course on any proposals, which will be subject to consultation where appropriate.