London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

I am grateful to noble Lords for introducing this short debate on security issues, which are of paramount importance. The last thing that would have crossed my mind is that the noble Baroness is mischief-making in raising this issue—far from it. She is doing the public a service in emphasising that we cannot conduct the games without paying due regard to security. After all, the Olympic Games have a history of security aspects dramatically intruding on them from time to time and, of course, the International Olympic Committee needed to be reassured by the bids that the security issues would be approached properly. If we needed a reminder, the day following the announcement indicated to us all how we need to be on our guard and to be properly protected. The safety and security of everyone who participates in and attends the games is of paramount importance. That is why we amended the Bill in the other place to give the ODA a specific duty under Clause 6 to have regard to the importance of ensuring the safety of those attending or participating in the games. We take the issue of security very seriously. The Government, the interim ODA and LOCOG are already working with the police and the security services to consider and to plan how the London games can be made safe and secure. That work will feed into the design of the Olympic venues, which is part of the anxiety emphasised by the noble Baroness in her opening contribution. We shall continue a close working relationship over the next six years. I entirely accept that the noble Baroness is bringing before the Committee a representation from reputable authorities, but the reason we have had no representations from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and senior police about anxieties on this score with regard to the Bill is that they regard the Bill and the consultation already taking place as evidence of the significance that the Government inevitably attach to the matter. In addition to the ODA’s work in planning and building safe and secure venues, LOCOG has a budget of £213 million for security within Olympic venues. That is a substantial budget but, in addition, the police will provide security outside venues. As a result of our detailed security plans, the president of the IOC has stated that he has,"““full confidence that the London authorities will deliver a safe and secure Games””." Considering Amendment No. 33 more closely, one sees that it makes an important point about the need to address security provisions adequately. Clause 6 places an obligation on the ODA to have regard to the importance of safety. The authority is obliged to hold consultations as it considers appropriate with the police to ensure that it takes expert advice on these critical matters. That was the burden of several representations in this short debate. In fulfilling this duty, through consultation with the police, the ODA will need to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for police premises and facilities. A Cabinet-level security committee will lead on the security arrangements for the games, and should anxieties develop that the ODA was ignoring the concerns of the police or other proper authorities concerned with security, the Secretary of State holds a power of direction in reserve. I do not, therefore, think that the Bill needs to make the specific point mentioned in this amendment. It is an important point, but I hope that I have reassured the Committee that it has already been taken care of through a combination of the ODA’s general duty, the application of Clause 6 and the other non-statutory processes in place for handling security arrangements. As regards the Government, at the very highest level in the land, the security of the games will be in their hands and will be their responsibility.