Security 'breaches' at parliament

The Scotsman said security was breached three times

An investigation has been launched after a newspaper said its reporters breached security at the new Scottish Parliament building.

The Scotsman said journalists were able to enter the complex without clearance and wander around unchallenged.

A parliament spokesman said the issue of security was a serious matter and an inquiry has been ordered.

The newspaper said non-accredited staff entered the complex on three separate occasions in the past week.

It also alleged that some security cameras at the building, which the Queen will officially open next month, have yet to be switched on.

The Scotsman said reporters did not seek to disguise their identities and had no passes when they walked in at various times during the first week of parliamentary business at the new £431m site.

The parliament's security team immediately launched an investigation on being informed of these reports Scottish Parliament spokesman

It said one journalist walked through an open gate being used by workmen at Queensberry House just after 2200 BST on Thursday.

The journalist, who was carrying a large white bag containing cameras, passed security staff and spent 40 minutes on site, including some time on the roof.

He re-entered at another location and a guard offered to assist by leaving a door open for access.

'Very worrying'

On another occasion, a journalist was free to walk in and entered the debating chamber twice in an hour.

The newspaper said it was "remarkable" that its staff were able to show huge lapses in the parliament's defences in the very week when the Australian Embassy was bombed and people have been remembering the victims of the 11 September attacks in the US.

A Holyrood spokesman said: "The Scottish Parliament treats security-related issues very seriously.

"The parliament's security team immediately launched an investigation on being informed of these reports."

Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, a long-standing critic of the building project, said: "I think it is very worrying. I was always sceptical that we were important enough for anyone to bother about us.

"But there's been so much hype about the building that it will have attracted attention."