§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent assessment he has made of the current standards of horticulture in the gardens of 10 Downing street;
(2) what consideration he has given to the security implications of the proposed contracting out of the management of the Downing street gardens.
§ The Prime MinisterThe security implications of a contractor maintaining gardens in Downing street are considered in the same way as they are when other contractors' staff undertake work in Downing street or its gardens. The standards of gardening in 10 Downing street are high. Those standards will be maintained or improved when the work is bought in from the private sector.