§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for the proposed market-testing of prisons, to be chosen from the short-list of 21 prisons announced in August.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the timetable for the proposed market-testing of prisons.The list was of twelve prisons. In addition, nine open prisons were asked for submissions to allow the Prisons Board to decide if any should be added to the shortlist. Having considered these submissions, the Board informed the local prisons on 30 September that no open prison would be shortlisted on this occasion.The Prisons Board has not yet selected which one or two establishments will be market tested from the list of twelve.I would expect the market test to take about nine months to reach the stage of selecting the successful bidder.