To ask the Lord President of the Council who is responsible for maintaining and updating security provisions in the Palace of Westminster.
Final responsibility for security policy in the House of Commons rests with Mr. Speaker and, in the House of Lords, with the Lord Chairman of Committees, acting on behalf of the House of Lords' Administration Committee. Day-to-day executive responsibility for security policy is delegated to the Serjeant at
Present levels | Revised levels | |||||
Grant £ | Loan £ | Total £ | Grant £ | Loan £ | Total £ | |
New House | 8,700 | 13,500 | 22,200 | 11,500 | 17,500 | 29,000 |
House Improvement | 1,500 | 8,000 | 9,500 | 2,000 | 10,500 | 12,500 |
Arms and Black Rod in their respective areas of the building. Operational responsibility for security throughout the Palace of Westminster rests with the head of security, who works in support of these authorities and is answerable to them.
To ask the Lord President of the Council what matters relating to the security of the Palace of Westminster he makes it his practice to answer questions on.
Within the limitations of my own role as Leader of the House, I endeavour to be as helpful as possible in answering parliamentary questions on security matters, but for reasons which the hon. Member will appreciate, it has not been the practice of my predecessors, nor is my practice, to answer questions relating to security policy or to cases affecting individual Members or staff.