§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given by his Department, prior to the award of the contract to manage Doncaster prison, to the conclusions of the United States Congressional Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs report, "Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Covert Operation", published in July 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 13 July 1994]: 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 B. Landers to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 14 July 1994:
694WThe Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent QuestionInformation on asylum seekers removed in 1992 and 1993 under the Immigration Act 1971 is given in table B. These are all confirmed departures. Corresponding information for years prior to 1992 is not available.
Table B Removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, 1992 and 1993 1992 1993 In-country asylum applicants removed under the deportation process 70 921 In-country asylum applicants removed as illegal entrants 3171 4911 Port asylum applicants removed 9592 1,2362 Grand Total 1,346 1,819 1Includes voluntary departures. 2Includes any voluntary departure up to and including notification of the decision on the asylum application but excludes any subsequent departure. about what consideration was given by his Department, before the award of the contract to manage Doncaster prison, to the conclusions of the US Congressional Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs report on the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Covert Operation, published in July 1992.The two reports, whose conclusions conflicted, concerned Wackenhut Corporation, against whom no charges were laid. The contract for Doncaster prison was signed with Premier Prison Services Ltd which is a 50/50 joint venture wholly owned by Serco Ltd and Wackenhut Corrections Corporation. Wackenhut Corrections Corporation, a subsidiary of Wackenhut Corporation, was not involved in the matter that was investigated by the US Congressional Committee.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many managerial staff working at(a) Blakenhurst prison and (b) Doncaster prison are from the United States of America.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 13 July 1994]: 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.
695WLetter from Philippa Drew to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 14 July 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how many managerial staff working at (a) Blakenhurst Prison and (b) Doncaster Prison are from the United States of America.Neither of these prisons has any managerial staff from the United States of America.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people employed by the Prison Service or seconded to the prisons inspectorate have worked simultaneously or subsequently for private sector companies who(a) operate and (b) have tendered to operate prisons.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 13 July 1994]: No one employed by the Prison Service or seconded to the prisons inspectorate has worked simultaneously for a private sector company operating or tendering to operate prisons. Thirty-three former Prison Service employees subsequently worked for such companies. Of these, three were former governors who had been seconded to the inspectorate.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the Prison Service agency's policy in respect of the recognition of trade unions by operators of contracted-out prisons;
(2) what account he takes of trade union recognition in the tender evaluation process conducted by his Department when awarding the contracts to manage (a) the Wolds prison, (b) Blakenhurst prison and (c) Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answers 13 July 1994]: Responsibility for these matters 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 B. Landers to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 14 July 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your two recent Questions about trade union recognition at contracted out prisons.Whether or not a trade union is recognised at a contracted out prison is a matter for the contractor. In evaluating tenderers, the evaluation panel looks for evidence that a tenderer is a good employer with employment policies and conditions of service that are likely to recruit and retain staff of a suitable calibre to carry out the task. The evaluation includes consideration of the tenderer's industrial relations policy including how staff are consulted and what grievance procedures are in place.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will be employed by Premier Prison Services Ltd., at Doncaster prison; at what grades; and at what rates of pay.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 13 July 1994]: 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 Philippa Drew to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 14 July 1994: 696W
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of staff employed by Premier Prison Services Ltd. at Doncaster Prison; the grades; and the rates of pay.Premier Prison Services Ltd. expects to employ 365 staff. Of these about 219 will be prisoner custody officers (PCO). The operational grades are PCO, Unit Manager, Operations Manager, two of the Assistant Directors, and the Director, all of whom have to be certificated as PCO, as they have custodial contact with prisoners. There are also a number of administrative grades.The rates of pay are a matter for the company.