§ Mr. Woolmerasked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will investigate the state of security operations at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is satisfied with the security oversight exercised by the British Airports Authority over the employees of private contractors of services at its airports.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1982, c. 325–26.]: In regularly monitoring anti-terrorist security at Heathrow airport my aviation security advisers already try to ensure that, within the constraints imposed by legislation safeguarding individuals' rights, security is maintained at a level that matches the threat without unduly impeding the efficient operation of the airports. They are consulting the British Airports Authority and British Airways to determine what lessons should be drawn from the incident reported on "News at Ten" on 16 November, 1982.
§ Mr. Woolmerasked the Minister for Trade which agencies or organisations are involved in ensuring security at Heathrow airport; and how many are employed by each body.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1982, c. 325–26.]: The British Airports Authority employs 1,151 security staff at Heathrow: of these about three-quarters are engaged on passenger searching and pier patrols in the three terminal buildings, the rest on access control. The Metropolitan Police deploys 396 officers at Heathrow: it is responsible for general policing duties, investigating crime and patrolling the aircraft aprons and airfield perimeter. British Airways employs 229 security staff with responsibility for the security of their operations world-wide; including the security of their engineering and cargo facilities at Heathrow and of their aircraft in the central area. The Department of Trade is responsible for setting standards of anti-terrorist security in the civil aviation field and has three aviation security advisers who monitor these standards at Heathrow and other United Kingdom airports.