HC Deb 30 April 1993 vol 223 cc560-1W

In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, from the office, the Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the criteria used to assesss the suitability of the tenderers for the performance of prison escort services.

When awarding the contract for court escorting in the East Midlands and Humberside the main criteria considered by the tender panel were:

  1. The company track record and the support of the parent company or group for the contract;
  2. The company's grasp of the task being tendered;
  3. Ability to recruit, train and retain staff of suitable calibre;
  4. The adequacy of staffing levels and efficient use of staff;
  5. The number, capacity and configuration of vehicles the company proposed to use;
  6. Proposed routes;
  7. Management information systems;
  8. Price.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what penalty clauses form part of the contract with Group 4 for the court escort service in the east midlands area; and whether these penalty clauses have been activated as a result of recent events.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from I. Dunbar to Mr. John McAllion, dated 30 April 1993:

In the temporary absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, from the office, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about penalty clauses in the contract with Group 4 Court Services Ltd for the provision of the court escort service in the East Midlands and Humberside.

The contract with Group 4 contains mechanisms which allow adjustments to payments to be made in the event of circumstances occurring which fall outside the terms of the contract. Where a material failure is caused by circumstances within the contractor's control and is not corrected within 20 days of it being brought to his attention, the Prison Service may terminate the contract.

We are continuing to monitor Group 4's performance and have yet to decide whether it would be appropriate to apply any of the available contractual remedies.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bids were considered for the contract for the prison escort service awarded to Group 4 Security Services; and if he will publish(a) the names of the companies that bid for the prison escort service contract awarded to Group 4 Securities and (b) the cost level of each company's bid.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from I. Dunbar to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 30 April 1993: