§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special preference is given to tenders submitted by Prindus Ltd; to which parts of the public sector this preference applies; if it is confined to the public sector; and whether any provision is made to ensure that such preference does not conflict with companies operating in regions with special development area status which compete with Prindus Ltd for contracts.
§ Mr. MayhewThe arrangements which apply to Prison Industries—PRINDUS—in respect of contracts from Government Departments are covered by the priority158W suppliers agreement which relates not only to prison workshops but to workshops for the disabled. The agreement provides that
departments should continue to rank the priority suppliers equally among themselves, and in front of firms in development areas, for preferential allocation of Government orders; and they should endeavour to allocate a fair share of suitable orders to each of the priority suppliers".This agreement is not binding on other areas of the public sector but the principles are followed by some organisations on a voluntary basis.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the profit margin of Prindus Ltd. in the contract it secured from the National Coal Board for open sandals for use by miners in showers; and what was the total value of the contract.
§ Mr. MayhewInformation on the total value of the contract and on the profit margins, must be regarded as commercially confidential.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which of Her Majesty's prisons Prindus Ltd has based its manufacturing businesses.
§ Mr. MayhewPrison Industries has workshops engaged in manufacturing in nearly all of Her Majesty's prisons.