HC Deb 22 June 1994 vol 245 cc169-71W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions were specified in respect of the number of employees to be employed for the first phase of the contract in the contract with Securicor for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area. There were no conditions relating specifically to the number of employees to be employed by Securicor Custodial Services Limited for the first phase of their contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. Securicor were required, however, to employ sufficient numbers to staff adequately all courts in the contract area thereby enabling the courts to function effectively. They were also required to employ sufficient staff to escort safely all those who were required at courts.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions were specified in respect of pay and terms of service of employees in the contract with Securicor for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area. There were no conditions specific to the pay and terms of service of employees in the contract with Securicor Custodial Services Limited for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. Securicor are responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, and pay and terms of service for all their personnel. Recruitment policy and procedures must however be approved by the Prison Service. The Prison Service must be satisfied that the level of pay and the terms of service are sufficiently attractive to enable Securicor Custodial Services Limited to recruit and retain high calibre staff.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies tendered for the contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the companies that tendered for the contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. Tenders were received on 30 September 1993 from the following four companies: Securicor Custodial Services Limited; Reliance Custodial Services; Group 4 Court Services and Pinkerton Court Escort Services Limited. After carefully considering the proposals, the Prisons Board decided to award the contract to Securicor Custodial Services Limited.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the value of the contract awarded to Securicor for court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the value of the contract awarded to Securicor for court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. The contract is valued at £96 million and will run for five years.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is currently given to prison officers escorting prisoners to court; what is the duration of that training; and what training, of what duration, will be given to employees of private security firms engaged in this work from 27 June in the Metropolitan police area.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area. All newly recruited prison officers receive specific training in court escort duties as part of their nine weeks induction course. The training comprises six sessions of 45 minutes each and covers relevant court and Prison Service procedures. Many other aspects of the induction course are also relevant to escort duties, including a range of training in interpersonal skills and general security procedures such as searching, handcuffing, and use of the closeting chain. Securicor are required by the contract to train all their custodial staff to prepare them for certification and employment as Prisoner Custody Officers carrying out prisoner escort duties and as Prisoner Custody Officers performing custodial duties at a contracted out prison. The training consists of five modules which cover the following subjects: the legal framework; prisoner management; security; supervision and control; general. This training totals 234 hours. All training must be approved by, and completed to the satisfaction of the Prison Service.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks his Department has made for criminal records of the employees of Securicor who will be carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area as of 27 June.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

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 A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the checks made for criminal records of the employees of Securicor who will be carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. All people who work at contracted out prisons and for the contracted court escort service are subject to routine enquiries about their suitability to work with prisoners. These enquiries are similar to those made in relation to applicants for Prison Service employment. Candidates who apply for employment, either in the public or the private sector of the Prison Service, in custodial duties or escort functions are exempted from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by the Rehabilitation Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and therefore convictions which ordinarily are regarded as "spent" are taken into account.