To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each port in England and Wales at which police including special branch officers, are stationed either on a full-time or part-time basis the following information: (a) the name of the relevant police force, (b) the number of full-time equivalent police officers stationed there or the number of police man hours, (c) the total direct costs associated with policing each port, (d) the total indirect costs associated with policing each port and (e) the amount of money provided to each police force in respect of policing each port.

Special branch offices are stationed on a full-time basis at those seaports and airports in England and Wales which are designated under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. In addition, uniformed police are stationed on a full-time basis at those airports in England and Wales which are designated under the Aviation Security Act 1982. The table shows which police force is responsible for the policing of each of the ports designated under these statutes. Police are also present on an ad hoc basis at a number of other ports in England and Wales.The cost falls to the appropriate police authority and comes within the normal police funding arrangements. Under these arrangements the Home Office meets 51 per cent. of whatever a police authority spends on policing and an additional contribution is made from central Government funds by way of block grant. It would not be right in the interests of national security to publish information about numbers of officers, police man hours, or the costs associated with the policing of individual ports.Information is not held centrally for sea ports whose owners appoint their own constables under local and private legislation and where costs are met by the harbour authorities.