Leader: Parliament security

Published on Saturday 13 March 2010 11:11

WHILE we can never become complacent about the threat of terrorism, our responses to it must always balance the likelihood of an attack against preventative costs.

The events at Glasgow Airport demonstrated that Scotland is a potential target for fanatics, but the risk of another attack here must still be considered as relatively remote.

In recent times, more than 2 million has been spent at the Scottish Parliament heightening its security measures.

Concrete bollards and benches have been placed around the building. A concrete chicane has been built on an approach road to the car park. Turnstiles have been installed.

Some work can undoubtedly be justified, as the threat of attack anywhere in the West has grown since the 2004 opening of the 414m structure.

But the announcement that a new security extension – costing a further 5m – is to be added to the building will be seen by many as simply going a step too far.

Holyrood officials attempt to justify the additional expenditure by saying they are only following the advice of security chiefs and that the new screening centre is not only to protect MSPs but the thousands of visitors who tour the building every year.

But some will ask if it is really necessary when the security threat has not heightened since the last series of measures were passed.

Scotland was unlucky to be targeted at Glasgow. It is true that no-one knows where the terrorists will strike next. But 5m seems an excessive price to pay when weighed against the odds of another attack.

IT IS disappointing that a decision has been taken to delay the construction of a high speed rail link all the way from London to Scotland.

Yes, the upgrading of the track as far as Birmingham is a step in the right direction.

But pressure must be kept on the government to keep its commitment to extend the line north of the border, shaving an hour off journey times.

Edinburgh's economy has much to gain from faster links to the south, and surely it would be cruel and unfair to deny the rest of the country speedy access to our city.