§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet governors of London prisons to outline his policy on prison matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydMy right hon. and learned Friend currently has no plans to meet governors of London prisons. On 3 November he made a speech about imprisonment to the prison service conference, to which senior governors were invited.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend privatisation and market testing in the prison service in London.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility 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 D. Lewis to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 30 November 1993:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Question about privatisation and market testing in the Prison Service in London.As the then Home Secretary announced on 16 February, the court escort and custody service in the Metropolitan Police District is to be contracted out in 1994. The contracted service will be phased in beginning in July 1994. The other identified candidates for market testing in the Prison Service in London are the work of the Parole Board Secretariat, some registry work and some information technology work. Consideration is being given to what further candidates might be added.You will also be aware of the Home Secretary's announcement on 2 September that about 10 per cent. of prisons, twelve in all, will be managed by the private sector. No decision has been made as to whether any of these establishments will be in London.