§ Mr. PrescottTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has discussed with British Airways, BAA or the Metropolitan police the allegations made by Mrs. Victoria Tregartha about inadequate security cover at Heathrow.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department of Transport has discussed Mrs. Tregartha's allegations with British Airways who had no evidence that the firm, which was the subject of Mrs. Tregartha's allegations, was not carrying out its duties satisfactorily. The Department has also been in contact with the Metropolitan police who are still investigating these allegations. There have been no discussions about the allegations with BAA.
§ Mr. PrescottTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider his response to the recommendation of the House of Commons Select 307W Committee on Transport for an independent airport security inspectorate with a separate aviation security fund and levy.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to change the present arrangements whereby, within the Department of Transport, the Aviation Security Inspectorate is independent of the aviation policy divisions. That arrangement is in line with the Select Committee's recommendation. The Government's reasons for rejecting the Select Committee's recommendation that an aviation security fund should be established and paid for by a levy on passengers remain valid. The fund which was abolished in 1983 was bureaucratic, complicated and costly to administer.
§ Mr. PrescottTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken arising out of the allegations of Mrs. Victoria Tregartha about inadequate security cover by the BA Securiplans company at Heathrow; when the Department was first aware of the allegations; whether it has yet interviewed Mrs. Tregartha; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department first became aware of the allegations made by Mrs. Tregartha when the article appeared in theObserver of 7 April. Arrangements were then immediately made for one of the Department's aviation security inspectors to inspect Securiplan's operations at Heathrow. There was no evidence during the period of the inspection that departmental requirements were not being met.
The Department has not interviewed Mrs. Tregartha because the Metropolitan police are still investigating the allegations in the article. If it turns out that they are true, the Department will take whatever further action is necessary.
The Department requires airports and airlines to meet the requirements of the national aviation security programme. If airports and airlines use private security firms, they must ensure that the standards required by the programme are met.