HC Deb 07 October 2003 vol 411 c175W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements she made for(a) access by US citizens to the US Embassy and (b) access to Grosvenor Square by members of the public offering their condolences on 11 September when the Square was closed. [131412]

Tessa Jowell

My Department liaised closely with the US Embassy throughout the organisation of this event and access to the Embassy was available on 11 September 2003. The opening of the garden was a ticket-only event for the families of the UK victims. It would not have been appropriate to allow other members of the public to participate in this very private moment. Furthermore, permitting members of the public to access the site on the day of the event would have compromised the extremely tight security which was required for such a high profile event.