HC Deb 20 December 1994 vol 251 cc1207-9W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of his Department's posts lost or contracted out as a result of market testing since 1991.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

A total of 705 Home Office posts have been contracted out as a result of the "Competing for Quality" programme, which includes strategic contracting out as well as market testing with in-house bids. There has also been a reduction of 209 posts as a result of efficiency improvements made by in-house bid teams during the market-testing process.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many external contractors have been awarded functions of his department following a market test; and what were the contract prices.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) at column487.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which outside consultants were used during the course of any market test conducted or completed since 1991;

(2) what was the total amount paid to each consultant used on his Department's market testing in each year since 1991.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Up to 30 September 1994 the Home Office market-testing division and the Prison Service contracts and competition group engaged the following consultants to advise on market tests where there was an in-house bid:

  • Brian Farrington Ltd.
  • P. Chapman
  • Clayton Forde Associates
  • D. Croin
  • ER Consultants
  • Ernst and Young
  • Handley-Walker plc
  • Ken Worthing Associates
  • KPMG Peat Marwick
  • Lamb Associates
  • G. Lister
  • L. Massey
  • PA Consulting Group
  • Theodore Goddard
  • Touche Ross Management Consultants

Information on the costs of contracts with individual consultants is commercially confidential.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the outcome of each market-testing exercise in his Department which has been completed since 1991;

(2) which of his Department's functions have been market tested since 1991.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The outcome for each market test with an in-house bid since 1991 is as follows:

Market testing exercise
Non-Prisons Programme
Statistics Data Collection In-house bid win
Central Training Services In-house bid win
Central Typing Services In-house bid win
Reprographic and Design and Illustration Services Contract to be awarded to HMSO
Departmental Computer Services Contracted out
Immigration and Nationality Department Security Guards In-house bid win
Internal Audit In-house bid win
Record Storage and Retrieval In-house bid win
Immigration and Nationality Department Typing Services In-house bid win
Immigration and Nationality Department Messengerial and Reprographic Services Immigration and Nationality Department File Storage and Retrieval Services Tenders being evaluated
Prisons Programme
HMP Manchester In-house bid win
Warehousing Prisons In-house bid win

Market testing exercise
Facilities Management In-house bid win
Management of Buckley Hall Prison Contracted-out

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