Security Clearance

Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the main factors which are considered to present a security risk among those working for sub-contractors to his Department;(2) in how many cases in the last 12 months sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane have failed to gain security clearance; and what was the average length of time such employees had been working at the base before they were informed of this.

Mr. Archie Hamilton
I am unable to give the information requested, owing to national security considerations.

Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what rights of appeal exist for sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane who fail to gain security clearance;

(2) what procedures his Department adopts when sub-contractors' employees fail to gain the necessary clearance to work at Faslane;

(3) what steps his Department takes to vet sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane.

Mr. Archie Hamilton
It is not the policy of this or any previous Administration to release details of security clearance procedures.