Written question WQ88824

Thank you for your request for financial information.

The precise information requested is not published or disclosed due to legitimate national security concerns, including the need to prevent harm, or the risk of harm, occurring to Members of the Senedd, their Support Staff, Senedd Commission staff, the Police cohort and visitors to the Senedd estate, as well as the infrastructure and buildings of the Senedd itself.

The information covered by the request directly relates to arrangements for the security of the Senedd estate. The risk in the disclosure of this information is that there is a genuine likelihood it will damage the effectiveness and integrity of those arrangements.

In addition, should a public request be made, the information in question would be exempt from disclosure under sections 24(1) and 38(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Actual itemised expenditure is not published but included within the non-staff costs figure in the Annual Report and Accounts. In 2022/23 the published security budget cost was £773,500, with the same budgeted cost for 2023/24.

A confidential briefing on expenditure can be arranged with the Member should they require further information.