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1659974

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what support the Houses of Lords Administration receives from His Majesty’s Government regarding the issuing of parliamentary passes and the vetting of individuals when passes are requested; and what consideration he has given to a review into the activities of hostile states and the subversion of parliamentary democracy in the House of Lords.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10084
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2023 answer text <p>All passholders are subject to vetting, and Parliament follows the Government vetting framework and is regulated by the Government’s statement of vetting policy. Parliament’s vetting processes draw on data provided by the relevant national authorities. More information can be found in Parliament’s <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/mps-lords--offices/offices/pass-office/psd-national-security-vetting-booklet.pdf" target="_blank">National Security Vetting booklet</a>. I am constrained in what further I can share widely on Parliament’s security measures.</p><p>Parliament works with the relevant national authorities to keep all potential threats to Parliament, parliamentarians and parliamentary democracy under constant review and ensure our mitigations are appropriate. This includes the threat posed by foreign state interference. Parliament is also represented at the Defending Democracy taskforce which is chaired by the Security Minister.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/09/2023 15:58:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1599690

registered interest
date	27/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the latest estimate of the cost of the work currently underway at Peers' Entrance; by whom this expenditure was authorised; and what was the cost of the works that required the temporary closure of Peers' Entrance in August and September 2022.
tabling member printed	Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
uin	HL5913
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2023 answer text <p>The work at Peers’ Entrance during August and September 2022 was part of the same project as the work currently underway at Peers’ Entrance. For security reasons the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.</p><p>The Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House, as Accounting and Corporate Officers, have responsibility for approving final business cases for security projects across the Parliamentary Estate, subject to advice from the Finance Directors and other relevant officials. The Clerk of the Parliaments’ decisions on security projects are informed by consultation with the House of Lords Commission, which ensures that the impact on Members is taken into account, and by the Finance Committee which receives regular reports regarding security expenditure. The Clerk of the House is informed by the equivalent groups and individuals in the House of Commons. Ultimately it is not the House that makes the final decision because security is a bicameral issue, and legal responsibility for safety sits with the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 09/03/2023 17:09:32 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	579 label Biography information for Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

1585544

registered interest
date	08/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether £7 million is to be spent on the security works project at Peers' Entrance; why such expenditure is necessary; and who authorised it.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL5563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2023 answer text <p>For security reasons, the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.</p><p>The necessity and cost of the works at Peers’ Entrance have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts. Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.　　<br></p><p>The Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House, as Accounting and Corporate Officers, have responsibility for approving final business cases for security projects across the Parliamentary Estate, subject to advice from the Finance Directors and other relevant officials. The Clerk of the Parliaments’ decisions on security projects are informed by consultation with the House of Lords Commission, which ensures that the impact on Members is taken into account, and by the Finance Committee which receives regular reports regarding security expenditure. The Clerk of the House is informed by the equivalent groups and individuals in the House of Commons. Ultimately it is not the House that makes the final decision because security is a bicameral issue, and legal responsibility for safety sits with the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House.<br></p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 16/02/2023 14:01:31 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1584703

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether, in view of the disquiet over the cost and other aspects of the Peers' Entrance works, any way exists for the issue to be brought to the floor of the House for debate, with a possibility of cancelling or referring back for further consideration these proposals.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL5423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>The strong advice to all members is that debating the drivers behind specific security projects, and the plans to address security weaknesses, should not be raised in any public forum as to do so may heighten the security threat.</p><p>Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.</p><p>The Peers’ Portico project has been approved by the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House who, as Accounting Officers and Corporate Officers, are legally accountable for ensuring the safety of all members, staff and visitors on the Parliamentary Estate as a whole. Before coming to their decision, they considered professional security advice, the external professional security validation of that advice, and the views of members on the Commission, the Services Committee, the Finance Committee and members more widely. Ultimately it is not the House that makes the final decision because security is a bicameral issue, and legal responsibility for safety sits with the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/02/2023 11:54:12 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1584773

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 1 February (HL5048), what account was taken of the further security works to be undertaken within the next three years when assessing the proportionality of the cost of the works at Peers' Entrance.
tabling member printed	Viscount Trenchard
uin	HL5480
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.<br></p><p>To avoid publicly disclosing sensitive security matters it is not possible to go into further detail, however Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/02/2023 11:59:12 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1829 label Biography information for Viscount Trenchard

1584774

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 1 February (HL5048), what account was taken by the external experts of the proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers' Entrance against the background that further related security works will be undertaken within the next three years.
tabling member printed	Viscount Trenchard
uin	HL5481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.</p><p>To avoid publicly disclosing sensitive security matters it is not possible to go into further detail, however Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/02/2023 12:09:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1829 label Biography information for Viscount Trenchard

1583969

registered interest
date	03/02/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how many firms were invited to tender for the new front door at Peers Entrance.
tabling member printed	Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
uin	HL5393
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>Three contractors were given the opportunity to be issued an invitation to tender for the replacement front door at Peers’ Entrance. Two contractors confirmed they wanted to bid for the works and were issued an invitation to tender. Both contractors submitted tenders which were evaluated by an evaluation panel and the highest scoring contractor was awarded the contract.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/02/2023 12:35:34 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1141 label Biography information for Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

1580489

registered interest
date	24/01/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the proportionality of the cost of replacing the revolving door at Peers' Entrance, given the plans for further related security works within the next three years.
tabling member printed	Viscount Trenchard
uin	HL5048
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2023 answer text <p>The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 01/02/2023 15:35:10 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1829 label Biography information for Viscount Trenchard

1569094

registered interest
date	20/01/2023
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the (1) current, and (2) planned, expenditure on security for the House of Lords; and what is the governance process to ensure value for the taxpayer.
tabling member printed	Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
uin	HL4934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2023 answer text <p>Costs for security are split between the House of Commons and House of Lords in accordance with an agreed ratio of 70:30. However, physical and operational security measures across Parliament benefit all users of the estate regardless of which House they are based in, so it would not be possible to determine the cost of security by House.</p><p>The House of Lords’ portion of security operating costs is published in the House of Lords Annual Report and Accounts; in 2021-22 this amounted to £18.26m. For security reasons the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.</p><p>The governance process for expenditure on security includes regular reports to the Finance Committees of both Houses, and oversight by the Clerks and Finance Directors of both Houses.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 01/02/2023 15:34:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1141 label Biography information for Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

777536

registered interest
date	25/10/2017
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Security
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are to ensure that members of the House of Lords wear their security passes when on the Parliamentary estate.
tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
uin	HL2540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2017 answer text <p>It is a firm requirement of the House authorities that all Parliamentary passholders must wear their security passes when they are on the Parliamentary Estate. The importance of pass-wearing was confirmed by the House of Lords Commission at its meeting on 13 September.</p><p>Members of the House of Lords who do not comply with the requirement to wear their security passes on the Parliamentary Estate are liable to be challenged by Security Officers and others. Any cases where a member is persistent in not wearing their pass will be raised with the relevant Whips or with the Convenor of Crossbench Peers as necessary. In addition, spot checks on pass-wearing, assisted by mobile pass-readers on the Estate, will be conducted on a regular basis. The importance of pass-wearing is emphasised on posters displayed prominently throughout the Parliamentary Estate.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 02/11/2017 12:46:29 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth