§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure has to be followed when a commanding officer of the West Indies guard ship and the United States Coast Guard officers on board wish to obtain permission to board a vessel they suspect of being involved in drug smuggling. [30259]
§ Dr. ReidPermission must be sought from UK HQ FLEET and the US Coastguard Authority before the West Indies Guard Ship can stop, and her US Law Enforcement Detachment can board and search, a suspect vessel. It is for the US Coastguard Authority to confirm that the flagged state to which the suspect vessel belongs is content for the operation to be undertaken.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number of requests to board vessels suspected of being involved in drug smuggling made by the commanding officer, (b) the number of requests agreed to, (c) the number of occasions when evidence of drug smuggling was found and (d) the quantities and types of drugs found in respect of the West Indies guard ship for each of the past three years. [30260]
§ Dr. ReidI will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.