§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have so far been seconded to work in the market-testing unit in his Department; and how many more secondments are planned.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere are presently 27 members of staff in the Home Office market-testing unit and three in the prison service market-testing section. It is planned to increase staff numbers to 54.5 in the market-testing unit and seven in the prison service.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's operations will be subjected to market testing during financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMarket testing within the Home Office will be taking place in the following areas with a view to a decision by September 1993:
- Accommodation and office services
- Computer services
- Internal audit
- Pay services
- Police National Computer (Hendon datacentre)
- Prison service:
- College, training and facilities management
- Computing services
- Court escorts
- Dog service
- Education
- Prison establishments
- Warehousing, distribution and fleet management
The future programme is under consideration.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the budget for the market-testing unit in his Department for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe budget for the Home Office market-testing unit is £1,143,000 in 1992–93 and £1,260,000 in 1993–94. That for the prison service market testing section is £70,000 in 1992–93 and £190,000 in 1993–94.