§ Baroness Coxasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether he will review the provision of security for the Palace of Westminster in the light of a report in The Sunday Times on 30 July that the Sudanese businessman, Salah Idris, is a leading shareholder in a company which provides security systems to the Houses of Parliament, and in the light of his alleged links with the international terrorist, Osama Bin Laden. [HL3970]
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)I understand that the report referred to in the noble Baroness's question was forwarded to Black Rod's Office on 17 August. It was immediately passed to the Head of Security, who consulted the appropriate specialist authorities. In a letter to the noble Baroness dated 18 September the Head of Security stated that Salah Idris had no day-to-day involvement in the running of the company concerned. The same company has also installed surveillance equipment at the Royal Courts of Justice and digital playback consoles for New Scotland Yard.
The question of security in the Palace of Westminster is kept under constant review and I therefore see no need to change the present arrangements.