§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private security firms have been employed by his Department for each of the last 10 years; what has been the annual value of the contracts; and if he will estimate how many guards have been employed for each of those years.
§ Mr. GummerThe information requested, for the Department's main HQ buildings in London and Bristol, is set out below. Information for other, smaller buildings in the regions is not available except at disproportionate cost.
34W
Year Cost (£k) Firms Guards London HQ buildings1 1984–85 33 1 17 1985–86 166 2 Between 17 and 23 1986–87 179 2 Between 23 and 24 1987–88 186 2 Between 25 and 26 1988–89 255 3 Between 24 and 28 1989–90 311 2 24 1990–91 371 2 24 1991–92 404 1 Between 25 guards only and 20 guards plus 6 receptionists 1992–93 398 1 Between 18 and 20 guards and 5 and 6 receptionists 1993–94 393 1 18 guards, 5 receptionists Bristol HQ buildings2 1984–85 n/a n/a n/a 1985–86 37 1 5 1986–87 39 1 5 1987–88 40 1 5 1988–89 46 1 5 1989–90 50 1 5 1990–91 62 1 6 1991–92 72 1 6 1992–93 74 1 6 1993–94 78 1 6 1 Costs are exclusive of VAT. The buildings are occupied by staff from DOE and DOT. The first contract started January 1985. Two buildings are covered throughout. A contract for a third building was let during 1985–86 but details are not available from 1988–89. A fourth building was included for some six months in 1988–89.
2 Costs are exclusive of VAT. The buildings are occupied by staff from DOE and DOT.