asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester about the role of his force's tactical aid group; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

The chief constable of Greater Manchester informs me that the role of his force's tactical aid group is to maintain a support team to give assistance to divisional and departmental commanders in a variety of policing operations. These include hijacks and hostage takings; the containment of armed and besieged criminals; searches and cordoning at the scene of bomb incidents and disasters; security of buildings and areas for VIP visits; the support of divisional officers at parades, demonstrations and football matches; assistance in major crime inquiries; escorts for high risk prisoners; and other specialist operations.