§ Mr. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on introducing the private sector into the running of prisons.
§ Mr. Peter LloydPrivate sector involvement in the prison service is being introduced through the contracting-out and market-testing of both entire establishments and individual services within prisons. The aim is to raise standards and improve value for money.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the costs of privatising catering services in Her Majesty's prison service.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe value of the contracts awarded to commercial companies for inmate catering services in Her Majesty's prison service is £1,940,263. The costs of letting and administering the contracts were met from a number of separate budgets and are not readily available.