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Security

Volume 473: debated on Wednesday 12 March 2008

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was spent on security in the Palace of Westminster in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (192541)

The resource cost of security for the whole of the parliamentary estate is only available from 2001-02 following the introduction of resource accounting in that year. The figures are:

Cost (£000)

Commons

Lords

Total

2001-02

12,896

5,913

18,809

2002-03

15,319

6,928

22,247

2003-04

16,655

7,511

24,166

2004-05

18,110

8,122

26,232

2005-06

19,917

9,112

29,029

2006-07

20,292

9,313

29,605

In addition, there has been cash expenditure on a number of security related projects as follows:

Cost (£000)

2001-02

199

2002-03

1,961

2003-04

1,201

2004-05

1,304

2005-06

3,719

2006-07

8,172

Costs are shared between the two Houses.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission under what circumstances a Palace of Westminster pass may be (a) suspended and (b) revoked; and if he will make a statement. (192543)

The information is as follows.

(a) A pass will be suspended if the Serjeant at Arms or her Deputy has reason to believe that a pass-holder who is not a Member has been convicted of a criminal offence or has engaged in behaviour or associations which create an expectation that the pass-holder’s access to the parliamentary estate could be detrimental to the security or reputation of the House of Commons.

(b) A pass may be revoked if, following consultation with appropriate authorities or individuals, the expectation referred to in paragraph (a) is confirmed or, in the balance of probabilities, is considered to be likely.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many (a) males and (b) females, broken down by age group, were (i) arrested, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted of trespass in the Palace of Westminster in each of the last three years for which information is available. (192617)

The Palace of Westminster became a designated site relating to Trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 on 1 June 2007.

The only persons arrested for trespass have been the demonstrators on the roof on 27 February 2008. Five persons were arrested: female aged 20; female aged 23; male aged 27; male aged 34 and male aged 31.