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Parliament notes with concern false claims contained in a Sunday newspaper report today that the Secretary to Parliament demands ‘blue-light’ treatment and that he believes he is entitled to it.

Of particular concern is that the newspaper makes these claims in spite of a clear and comprehensive official response by Parliament to dispute this.

In its reply to questions about this accusation from the newspaper last week, Parliament stated that Secretary had never asked for neither the installation nor use of blue lights in the Parliamentary owned 2005 model Audi which he uses for official business from time to time.

The 10 year-old car is part of a Parliamentary pool of cars which are driven by officials to reduce the hiring of cars for official business. It is normal that officials, including the Secretary, use official vehicles or a hired car while on official duty. This is standard practice in the public sector. The alternative to using the car, which is already owned by Parliament, would be to hire a car for the Secretary from a rental agency to go on official trips, at a greater cost.

It is common knowledge that Parliamentary Protection Services (PPS) are staff members of Parliament. They do not form part of the police service. They are also not part of the VIP protection service.

When PPS staff perform their duties they do so as members of the Parliamentary staff. The Secretary is thus not provided police or VIP protection nor has he asked for such a service.

The use of police protection unit by Parliament is only for Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and their deputies. Insinuating anything to the contrary is simply incorrect.

It is important to note that, in the course of his work, the Secretary is sometimes required to be accompanied by his spouse as part of official representation at official functions. Parliament's travel policy provides for this. In those instances where the Secretary has to travel with his spouse they do so in the same car and where there is a need to coordinate their trips separately such arrangements are made accordingly.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE RSA