§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the organisation and management of the Scottish Prison Service; what arrangements are currently in place for compulsory competitive tendering within the service; if he has any plans to make any other service element subject to CCT; and if he has any plans to introduce any form of privatisation to the service.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Prison Service became an executive agency on 1 April 1993.
The Scottish Prison Service is currently market testing the maintenance and minor works projects at Barlinnie, Shotts, Edinburgh and Perth prisons—annual cost £3.7 million, 115staff—and the storage and distribution service which operates from central stores—annual cost £800,000, 22 staff.
The Secretary of State is currently considering with the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service possibilities for further market testing and an announcement will be made in the summer.
Market testing might lead to contracting out, but there are no plans to privatise any part of the Scottish Prison Service.