§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence why he has decided to replace guards provided by the London custody service with his Department's own guard force at London buildings.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe MOD has reduced its use of the London custody service because recruitment in its own guard force has improved and we prefer those guarding our buildings to be members of MOD and trained and equipped to our standards. There are also savings to the defence budget.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to his Department of security guards provided by the London custody service during each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe cost to the Ministry of Defence of security guards provided by the London custody service during each of the past five years has been as follows:
93W
£ 1986–87 3,607,597.66 1987–88 4,529,811.46 1988–89 4,841,283.26
£ 1989–90 5,205,886.35 1990–91 5,873,158.060
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Ministry of Defence buildings at which it is planned to replace the London custody service by his Department's new guard force indicating the starting date for each change, and the numbers to be employed at each building.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonLondon custody service guards were replaced by MOD guards at 3–5 Great Scotland Yard in 1990. Those at Northumberland house and the Old Admiralty buildings will be replaced on 1 October. For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to reveal the numbers of guards at each location.