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London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

The noble Lord will recognise that in this area we do not specify every detail of the security forces and their co-operation. I seek to identify that we cannot guarantee a safe games without the fullest consultation and employment of all agencies that can contribute to it. We are already setting about that and have the necessary authority in place to guarantee that those processes continue. I also indicated the very substantial figure already devoted to security. I understand what the noble Lord is saying—it is not on wider security matters—but a substantial sum is directed towards security within venues. It is asking a great deal at this stage to go much further than this, against a background in which the police are satisfied, in so far as we have not had additional representations from them about this clause, at a high level. As I said, we have been able not only to assure, but to gain the support of, the International Olympic Committee that we are going about this task in a purposeful and effective manner. It is very difficult when discussing the Bill, rather than practices under the Bill, to argue that we could specify a great deal more than what we have done, when I can give evidence that we are acting completely consistently with others’ expectations.