HC Deb 28 February 2002 vol 380 cc1459-60W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what training is given to MDP reserves; and if he will make a statement; [38067]

(2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on its police reserves. [38066]

Dr. Moonie

There are no Ministry of Defence Police reserves, although there is an MDP Operational Support Unit (OSU) of fifty police officers based at MDP Headquarters at Wethersfield in Essex. In addition to receiving normal police training OSU officers are trained to provide teams for rope access, Incendiary Explosive Device searches, confined space search, chemical, biological radiological and nuclear response, personal protection for VIPs and public order duties.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the chain of command for MOD police deployed on US bases in the UK since 11 September 2001 is; and if he will make a statement. [38062]

Dr. Moonie

The Senior Ministry of Defence Police Officer at a US base remains responsible to the Chief Constable in respect of his units' constabulary duties, through the Operational Common Unit Commander. The US Station Commander is responsible for the Security of the site, and exercises day-to-day operational control over the MDP under delegated authority from the Chief Constable, MDP.