Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average time taken is to process the Government security checks required for a single employee of airport staff to begin employment.

I am unable to reveal the average processing time of National Security Vetting (NSV) checks as this is likely to prejudice national security. It would also impact the protective measures employed in safeguarding Her Majesty’s Government (HMG). However, I am able to report that national security checks for the aviation sector are being processed in a timely manner and that there are no delays.

In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.