§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 5 May,Official Report, column 643–44, how much his Department has spent on private investigation services during the last two years; if he will list those companies which have been employed by his Department during this period; what safeguards his Department took to ensure that these agencies were members of the Association of British Investigators; and what guidelines are currently in operation within his Department as regards this matter.
555W
§ Mr. RedwoodSeven private investigation agencies have been used by my Department in the last two years, at a total cost of £7,684.10. Although there is no prerequisite for the agencies appointed to be members of the Association of British Investigators, all but two of these agencies have been members of the association.
Private investigation services have been used in cases of damage to trunk road furniture and personal injury claims. The companies are not named for reasons of commercial confidentiality. There are no specific guidelines for their use, other than value for money considerations.