Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has made an assessment of the adequacy of security in the Palace of Westminster as a result of the number of unaccompanied non-passholders accessing the Parliamentary estate in order to use refreshment facilities; and if he will make a statement.

The House authorities, in conjunction with the police, assess all Parliamentary activity each week. This assessment is based on risk and considers all events, including banqueting, committees, meetings and other Parliamentary business. Security provision is based on risk and threat and comprises many different actions which we cannot disclose in full.

Unaccompanied non-passholders accessing the Parliamentary estate in order to use refreshment facilities are restricted to a limited number of areas. These areas, and routes to and from the entrances and exits to the estate, are carefully controlled by security and other House staff to minimise the risk of non-passholders accessing other parts of the estate. We encourage all Members and staff to challenge any unaccompanied non-passholders who are found in a restricted area and to alert security staff to their presence.

All non-passholders are subject to search and screening measures before entering the estate and may not bring onto the estate prohibited items. Further information about these measures can be found on the Parliamentary website: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/security/.