§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the original and (b) the revised closing date for tenders in respect of the market testing exercise at Her Majesty's prison Manchester.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe original closing date was 18 January. No new date has yet been set.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional costs will be incurred in respect of the market testing exercise at Her Majesty's prison Manchester as a result of the effect of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is not possible to identify separately any additional costs that might be caused by the application of the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to the market testing of HMP Manchester.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional information has been sent to tenderers for Her Majesty's Prison Manchester since 1 January; and what effect it will have on the tendering process.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe following information has been sent to all tenderers since 1 January:
On 4 January information about prisoner numbers received and discharged from Her Majesty's Prison Manchester over a three-month period;
On 6 January a note clarifying the supply of UHF and VHF equipment at the prison;
On 6 January a note advising that the deadline for the return of bids would be extended;
On 18 January information on the supply of X-ray machines, security portals and certain furnishings and fittings in the administration suite;
On 2 February a note on the current number of prisoners in police cells;
In addition, on 8 January, the Manchester bid team was sent a further copy of schedule 4, appendix 7, to the tender documents.
This information was provided to assist tenderers in the preparation of their bids and to inform them that the deadline for receiving bids would be extended.