§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many private security firms are employed by his Department or bodies associated with his Department; how many personnel are employed, at what 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.
§ Mr. GummerIt is Government's policy to contract out services such as security guarding when this is cost effective and makes good management sense. The 285W Department of Employment group employs 12 private security firms, which have contracted to man 16 security posts. These posts are at group locations in central London, Watford, Bootle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Letchworth, Slough, Barking, Deptford and Sheffield, and their responsibilities and duties involve the safeguarding of buildings and their contents. The cost in this financial year is £315,900 and the estimated cost in 1984–85 is £531,900. The figures for each of the past three years were £75,000 in 1980–81, £78,300 in 1981–82 and £78,700 in 1982–83 when fewer establishments were covered.