§ The CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of Listowel)My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to make a Statement on security. Mr. Speaker has just made a similar Statement in another place.
On 25th July 1974, the noble Lord the Leader of the House informed the House that, at the request of the Government, and with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor and Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis had arranged for a security review of the Palace of Westminster to be carried out by the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, now Sir James Starritt. The report is now in my hands, having been passed to me by the Lord Chancellor, and the House will wish me to express its gratitude to Sir James Starritt for his thorough and comprehensive examination.
When announcing the setting up of the review, the Leader of the House said that he hoped decisions on it might be 1844 taken with the highest degree of coordination between the two Houses. I have been considering, in consultation with the Leader of the House and with the authorities of the House of Commons, how in these circumstances the report might best be considered. Those whom I have consulted are in general agreement, that the most effective way would be to set up a small committee consisting of four Members of each House, those from this House being chosen probably from among the Members of the Administration Sub-Committee. The Committee would be an informal one, similar to the Committee in another place which is studying the Compton Report on Staffing of the House of Commons, and not a Joint Select Committee set up by Resolution of both Houses. It will report jointly to Mr. Speaker and to me. So far as this House is concerned, it will then be for me, in consultation with the Leader of the House, to consider what further action should be taken: in particular, whether the report, which is at present graded Secret, should be laid on the Table of the House.
My Lords, that concludes the Statement.