Regarding the eligibility criteria for the issue of security passes, when it last reviewed criteria for spouses or partners of Members, whe…

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) keeps arrangements relating to parliamentary passes, access permissions and personnel security requirements under regular review. A specific review of security passes, vetting requirements and access permissions is currently underway to ensure that arrangements are proportionate and appropriate to the threat and risk faced by the Parliament and reflect national security advice provided by security partners. The review will also take account of the recommendations of the Inclusive Parliament Review and the SPCB’s commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment through its zero-tolerance approach to all forms of unacceptable behaviour. The outcome of that review will inform any future changes to pass eligibility, access permissions and personnel security requirements. There are no plans at present to extend pass eligibility to additional family members of Members, as there is no security rationale to do so. Existing arrangements recognise the special status of spouses or partners only in limited circumstances, including accompanying Members to official events and functions. The SPCB also keeps under review the arrangements for Members’ staff. Following approval by the previous SPCB of a revised Personnel Security Policy, Members’ local office staff were brought within the scope of the Parliament’s personnel security framework. Accordingly, any staff working for a Member, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, must be security cleared before they can become passholders or be given access to parliamentary assets. The SPCB’s approach is based on the principle that access to the parliamentary estate should be granted only where there is a clear business need to enter the building. Parliamentary passes are therefore issued to individuals whose role or function requires regular access to the estate. The minimum baseline for most parliamentary passholders is currently Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance. This reflects UK Government personnel security guidance that CTC clearance is appropriate for individuals whose role involves proximity to public figures who may be at particular risk from terrorist attack, access to information or material which may be of value to terrorists, or unescorted access to locations assessed to be at particular risk from terrorist attack. Members of the Scottish Parliament are public figures and, as elected representatives, may be subject to threats and risks which require appropriate protective security measures. The requirement for a clear business need, together with proportionate personnel security measures, helps protect Members, their staff, parliamentary information and the wider parliamentary community. It also supports the Parliament’s ability to maintain appropriate controls over access to the estate and helps safeguard against improper influence, lobbying activity or other misuse of parliamentary assets.