§ 14. Ms ChurchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to announce a pause in market testing for prison services.
§ Mr. HowardThe prison service is committed to the policy for increased private sector management of prisons which I announced in September 1993. Four prisons are already under private sector management, contracts for two new prisons will be awarded shortly, two market tests of prisons have been completed and a further market test 456 is planned for this year. In addition, contracts are now in place for private management of the court escort and custody service in half England and Wales.
§ Ms ChurchNow that the Home Secretary has realised that the proper priority for the prison service is to improve security and control drug-taking in our prisons, why does not he realise that the best steps to be taken would be to abandon the policy of market testing and concentrate on those priorities?
§ Mr. HowardThe facts do not support the hon. Lady's assertions. For example, the first two contracts on escorts have saved the taxpayer more than £10 million a year, the courts now receive a better service and escapes have been reduced by more than 40 per cent.