HC Deb 07 February 1996 vol 271 cc242-4W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list for each royal ordnance site the number of incidents in each of the last five years requiring the attendance of his Department's police; [13193]

(2) if he will list for the royal ordnance Radway green site the number and type of incidents requiring the attendance of his Department's police in the last 12 months. [13195]

Mr. Soames

The information requested is provided in the table. The category "other incidents" includes minor building insecurities, the presence of persons and objects deemed to be suspicious until investigated and cleared, and mislaying of permits. "Security incidents" include failure to return keys, classified documents not locked away, and cabinets left insecure. Although the definition of crime includes theft of both Government and private property, criminal damage and instances of burglary, most incidents in ROFs over this period have been very minor offences.

Reported incidents Bridgwater Chorley Glascoed Nottingham Radway Green
1991
Crime 5 19 34 26 23
Road traffic accidents 1 4 6 2 2
Industrial accidents 0 0 2 18 0
Security incidents 23 66 120 185 85
Other incidents 8 43 140 11 37
1992
Crime 2 23 21 26 28
Road traffic accidents 0 2 5 1 3
Industrial accidents 1 0 0 9 0
Security incidents 50 58 68 138 25
Other incidents 17 33 90 17 14
1993
Crime 5 8 10 27 12
Road traffic accidents 1 1 10 0 3
Industrial accidents 1 0 2 4 0
Security incidents 55 46 22 40 10
Other incidents 11 19 18 20 17
1994
Crime 8 9 22 74 10
Road traffic accidents 2 1 2 0 1
Industrial accidents 1 1 5 1 0
Security incidents 22 15 33 38 12
Other incidents 28 17 32 26 16
1995
Crime 5 2 25 11 8
Road traffic accidents 0 3 4 0 2
Industrial accidents 1 3 0 5 0
Security incidents 26 30 83 37 12
Other incidents 43 12 20 14 12

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department's police currently protecting establishments in the defence industry carry arms. [13192]

Mr. Soames

All MOD police officers are firearms-trained and have ready access to arms should the need arise.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and which royal ordnance factories are currently protected by his Department's police; and from which he plans to withdraw them. [13190]

Mr. Soames

MOD police are currently deployed at the following royal ordnance sites: Bridgwater, Chorley, Glascoed, Nottingham and Radway green. A recent study on the employment of MOD police in the royal ordnance factories has recommended that MOD police be withdrawn from the Chorley, Radway green and Nottingham sites. Formal consultation between my Department and the MOD police staff associations, regarding thee proposals is now in progress.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access the royal ordnance factory Radway green MOD police have to an armed response vehicle; and what arrangements for such access will be established when his Department's police have been withdrawn. [13189]

Mr. Soames

The MOD police stationed at royal ordnance Radway green have immediate access to a dedicated armed response vehicle. If MDP are withdrawn from royal ordnance Radway green, following the conclusion of the formal consultation process, the provision of any armed response will be the responsibility of the chief constable of Cheshire.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what training he plans to provide to private security firms before they take over security duties from his Department's police; and if they will be permitted to carry arms; [13194]

(2) how many private security staff will be employed at the Radway green royal ordnance factory site to replace his Department's existing police. [13196]

Mr. Soames

The royal ordnance factories from which it is proposed to withdraw MDP will be protected by company guard force personnel. Their number and training will be for agreement between RO plc and the relevant licensing authority. They would not be permitted to carry arms; nor are there any plans for the MOD to provide training for them. Instructions for the use of private security firms at defence installations require that they should be trained to the levels specified.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each establishment protected at present by his Department's police(a) what that establishment produces and (b) what plans there are to withdraw the police officers; and by what date. [13191]

Mr. Soames

I will write to the hon. Member.