HC Deb 01 May 1996 vol 276 cc535-7W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what safeguards his Department took in respect of the last head of the civil business branch of the court Service, in relation to a possible conflict of interest when he took up employment as a consultant with the Drakes Group Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [26696]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 May 1996PQ 96/467: FORMER HEAD OF CIVIL AND FAMILY BUSINESS The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the former Head of Civil and Family Business in the Court Service. The Court Service is satisfied that the last Head of Civil and Family Business has complied with the requirements of the Business Appointments Rules in every relevant respect. Before his departure he applied for permission to seek post retirement consultancy work. Permission was given, subject to the completion of a further application in the event of accepting a commission with a firm with whom he had had previous dealings. This requirement applies for a period of two years following the date of his retirement. Advice on the application was taken from the Cabinet Office. The former Head of Civil Business had no dealings with Drakes Group Limited during his employment, although he was aware of their existence. His involvement in policy work on the collection of parking fines ended over two ago.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what contracts his Department and his agencies have with Serco Ltd.; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [26639]

Mr. Evans

The Lord Chancellor's Department holds no contracts with Serco Ltd. I have asked the chief executives of its executive agencies, the Court Service, the Land Registry, the Public Records Office and the Public Trust Office to reply direct, as the question concerns operational matters.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Martin Redmond, dated 1 May 1996PQ 96/468: CONTRACTS WITH SERCO LTD The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about Serco Ltd. The Court Service can find no record of having any current contracts with Serco Ltd.

Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 May 1996The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 23rd April 1996, regarding details of contracts made with Serco Ltd. The Public Trust Office has not entered into any contracts with Serco Ltd.

Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Martin Redmond dated, 1 May 1996I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply for the Public Record Office to your question about contracts with Serco Ltd. The Public Record Office has no contracts with Serco Ltd.

Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 May 1996I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning contracts with Serco Ltd. I can inform you that H M Land Registry has granted no contracts to this company.