§ Lord Kingslandasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration has been given to the security implications of creating a Supreme Court housed separately from Parliament; and what is the current estimate of the costs of installing appropriate security in an existing building and the revenue costs of maintaining security for any Supreme Court building. [HL764]
§ The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The cost of installing and maintaining security systems within the Supreme Court can only be established once the Supreme Court building has been selected.
As part of the consideration being given to the security requirements of the Supreme Court, DCA officials have met with the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and the chief superintendent responsible for policing Parliament.
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many sites the Lord Chancellor or the Department for Constitutional Affairs have discussed with the Lord Chief Justice or the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary or any representative of the senior judiciary as potential sites for a Supreme Court; and whether they will list those sites. [HL840]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonEight building options have been discussed with representatives of the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. An evaluation is currently being conducted to identify the preferred building option. Until this process has been completed, it could be prejudicial to our commercial position to disclose details.
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Lord Chancellor or the Department for Constitutional Affairs have been consulted at any stage on the commissioning or specification of works being carried out at Somerset House on the offices of the Inland Revenue; if so what was the purpose of this consultation; and whether the Department for Constitutional Affairs has made any requests as to specification, nature or timing of this work. [HL839]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonNeither I nor my department have been consulted with regard to works commissioned by the Inland Revenue at Somerset House.
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§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions or contacts the Lord Chancellor or officials of the Department for Constitutional Affairs have had with representatives of English Heritage to discuss the possible adaptation of any part of Somerset House, or any other site, for use as a potential Supreme Court; and when those contacts were first made. [HL842]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonRepresentatives of English Heritage have been consulted on one of the options currently under consideration for the Supreme Court.
Contact was first made during November 2003.