asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will stop using private security companies that have not been registered as approved in accordance with the compliance requirements of the Security Industry Authority. [HL1122]

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires contract security guards to hold a personal licence issued for that purpose by the Security Industry Authority. There is no exception from this requirement in respect of guards at government offices. Where a security firm has been granted approved status by the SIA under the voluntary approved contractor scheme and has the required authorisation from the SIA, they may deploy up to 15 per cent of staff who are unlicensed but have licence applications being processed by the SIA.