§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private security firms are currently hired by(a) his Department and (b) the services; how many firms have been hired for each of the last 10 years; and what is the value of the contracts at 1989 prices.
§ Mr. Archie Hamilton[holding answer 7 February 1990]: Twenty-one private security contractors are currently employed by the Ministry of Defence, at both service and civilian establishments. The total number of security contractors employed by the Ministry of Defence in each year from 1983 to 1989 is shown in the table. Figures for the years 1980 to 1982 are not held centrally.
Year Number of firms 1983 5 1984 9 1985 10 1986 9 1987 10 1988 17 1989 22 The total values at 1989 prices of the private security contracts in each financial year from 1983–84 are as follows:
Information for earlier years is not available.
Financial year Total value ('000s at 1989 prices) £ 1983–84 345 1984–85 461 1985–86 750 1986–87 1,329 1987–88 1,549 1988–89 2,033 1989–90 4,418
§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used in deciding between competing private security firms for Ministry of Defence contracts.
§ Mr. Archie Hamilton[holding answer 7 February 1990]: All contractors who wish to obtain MOD contracts must be listed on the defence contractors list. Companies that apply to join this list are scrutinised by MOD, for financial viability and technical competence. The references of the listed executives are also checked. Many of these companies are members of the British Security Industry Association and the International Professional Security Association, although they do not necessarily have to be members to join the defence contractors list.
When a decision is taken, by unit and command, after careful evaluation, that a guarding contract is to be placed, the contracts branch is asked to submit the details of the requirement to those companies listed on the defence contractors list. A company that wishes to be considered for tender or be awarded a contract must be on the defence contractors list.
The decision to award a contract for security guarding is based on the company's ability to meet the technical requirements of the tasks together with value for money.
312WTechnical compliancy is decided upon by a technical evaluation panel which includes security experts from the unit/command/department in question. This examines all technical aspects, that is, the firm's ability to perform the tasks effectively and efficiently. All the competing firms are then placed in an order of compliancy. A financial analysis of each tender is carried out by the contracts branch alone. The contracts branch then decides, using the technical panel's information on compliancy, with which contractor it will place the contract.