§ 11. Mr. FarrSecretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to improve security at Royal palaces.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe arrangements are kept under continuing review. In consultation with the authorities at Buckingham Palace, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is paying particular attention to the physical security measures there.
§ Mr. FarrCan my right hon. Friend look into the antique security measures in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, which cannot be satisfactory, in view of the ease with which a number of intruders spent the night there recently? Can he see whether electronic surveillance methods which would be manned for 24 hours a day could be adopted there at an early date?
§ Mr. WhitelawIt would be wrong of me to start to express views on the security measures that are made. I must make it clear to my hon. Friend and to the House that it would be wrong to describe those measures as antique in any way. Proper measures are taken and the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to make sure that they are so taken will be fulfilled.