Downing Street (Barricade) (Hansard, 1 November 1989)

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated scrap value of the gates to be erected across Downing street.

§ Mr. Chope
Less than £1,000.

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of the permanent gates to be erected across the end of Downing street.

§ Mr. Chope
It is not the Government's practice to comment on the costing of individual security measures.

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Downing street ceased to be a public thoroughfare.

§ Mr. Chope
Access to Downing street is controlled under police common law powers which allow them to take reasonable steps to preserve the peace and prevent threats to it.
The present barriers at the Whitehall entrance to Downing street, which the demountable gate will replace, have been in place since 1982.

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the permanent gates to be erected across Downing street are expected to provide more security than the present barrier.

§ Mr. Chope
Yes.