Chaired by Home Affairs Committee leader and Labour MP Keith Vaz, the detailed and extensive questioning session in Committee Room 15 lasted from noon until 1.40 pm and was broadcast live on Parliament TV.
G4S, of course, harbours a GB pound 284 million contract with the Government – via LOCOG – to provide 13,700 security officers for the Olympic Games which begin on Friday 27 July. At present, just over 4,000 personnel are “trained and ready” but G4S fully expects to have at least 7,000 personnel in place prior to Games time.
The company is fully committed to the Games and meeting its targets, but to cover all eventualities the Government has Armed Forces personnel and police officers on standby to meet any shortfalls that may arise.
Great clarity, wholly professional
Speaking ahead of today’s Committee gathering, Keith Vaz said: “The shortfall in security officer numbers due to be provided by G4S and the drafting in of Armed Forces personnel is a concerning development so close to the Games. We look forward to hearing a full explanation of what has happened from Mr Buckles and Mr Horseman-Sewell.”
In addition to Vaz’s own examination of the G4S business leaders, areas of interest to the Committee in relation to Olympics security were brought up in questions delivered by fellow Home Affairs Committee members Nicola Blackwood, David Winnick, Alun Michael, Lorraine Fullbrook and Michael Ellis.
Info4Security watched the whole proceedings on Parliament TV. In the face of some extremely tough questioning, to their great credit both Buckles and Horseman-Sewell offered total clarity in their answers and were wholly professional throughout.
*Watch the video extracts below for a flavour of this afternoon’s proceedings
**A more fulsome report will appear on Info4Security in due course
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