MINISTRY OF DEFENCE POLICE AND VALUE FOR MONEY

That this House applauds the efficiency of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in protecting the UK's defence assets from terrorist threats, through armed security at key defence sites, as well as protecting Britain's nuclear deterrent and Critical National Infrastructure; believes that MDP officers perform a vital role in ensuring the safety of Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel, their families and the British public; notes the work of the MDP's CID and Fraud Squad in protecting MOD resources from misappropriation and defending the interests of thousands of contractors who supply goods and services to the MOD; congratulates the MDP officers currently deployed overseas, most notably in Afghanistan and Kosovo, where they have been highly commended for their success in training local police forces; recognises that their training, highly specialised roles and the armed security they provide enables MDP officers to fulfil these vital tasks more economically and with fewer personnel than non-armed alternatives or private security firms; and accordingly calls on the Government to reject any suggestion that the MDP's duties can satisfactorily be carried out by others.