§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of private security firms currently employed by his Department, the number of employees for each firm on the contract, the total value of each contract and the total value of all contracts for each financial year since 1984–85.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe Ministry of Defence employs 16 commercial guarding companies. It is not our practice to provide information on the number of people employed on each contract, on security grounds. The value of each contract is regarded as commercial in confidence. I will write to the hon. Member about the total value of contracts for each financial year since 1984–85.