§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many private security firms are employed by his Department or bodies associated with his Department; how many personnel are employed, at which locations, on what responsibilities and duties, and at what annual cost; what have been the comparable figures for each of the last three years; and what estimates he has made as to the likely figures for 1984.
§ Sir Keith JosephIt is Government policy to contract out services such as security guarding on non-sensitive sites when this is cost effective and makes good management sense.
Although the Department itself does not employ private security firms, they are employed on physical security duties by two of the 31 "controlled" bodies associated with the Department. These firms cover seven sites at a total cost of about £204,000 in 1983–84. The approximate figures for previous years are 1980–81, £142,000; 230W 1981–82, £162,000; and 1982–83, £183,000. The estimated cost for 1984–85 is £231,000. Physical security arrangements at public bodies associated with the Department are, however, the responsibility primarily of the bodies themselves.