§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are used to call out the Armed Forces to protect property and persons and the security of the State; and whether the same criteria have been used in every instance since 1945. [HL3993]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)The Armed Forces carry out a wide range of activities in support of the community and the civil authorities, and provide help at times of civil emergency. In relation to the purposes described in the Question, they would be deployed in support of the civil authorities only where their and was considered by the Government to be essential for the achievement of those purposes. Information on whether different criteria have been in operation at any time since 1945 is not readily available.