§ Lord Smith of Cliftonasked Her Majesty's Government: Under what circumstances, when Whitehall is cordoned off, a Metropolitan Police officer may refuse passage to a Member of the House of Lords even when a Lords' pass is presented.
§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal:If an area is cordoned off, the decision to refuse passage to any person is based entirely on the safety of that individual, in what may be a dangerous area, or to facilitate a rescue operation. Every endeavour is always made to restore normality as speedily as possible.