§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how many principal buildings his Department is responsible within the city of Edinburgh; if he will state those buildings which are guarded by professional security agencies; and by what criteria his Department decides on the various levels of security applied to different buildings.
§ Mr. HeseltineMy Department is responsible for 162 buildings within the Government estate in the city of Edinburgh, approximately 390, 000 m2of accommodation. Responsibility for security of these buildings however rests with the major occupying Department and my Department is only responsible in Edinburgh for those buildings in which my Department is the major occupier—Directorate of Scottish Services HQ, Argyle House—or those which are awaiting occupation. Only two principal properties, the former Scottish Assembly building and the former John Watson's school fall into the latter category and both are guarded by professional security agencies. The level of security provided for different buildings is determined by the level of risk to which the particular buildings may be exposed.