§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many consultants have been asked to review the security services at Kensington palace; what they recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of consultants used. [36314]
(2) how much money the Historic Royal Palaces agency has spent on consultants since its establishment in 1988; and if she will list the consultants concerned; [36310]
(3) what is the current annual cost of running the security and warding service in the royal palaces; and if she will break the cost down (a) for the standard service, (b) for staffing special functions and (c) for overheads, separately identified for the security services at Hampton Court palace, the security service at Kensington palace, and the warding service at the Jewel house, Tower of London; [36318]
(4) what financial or other redress the Historic Royal Palaces agency has had to obtain from Group 4 in relation to the state apartment warding at Hampton Court palace
Year 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 Value £k N/A N/A 44 478 2,956 3,708 1,381 HRPA has used a large numner of consultants in a wide variety of fields including management, catering, gardening, security, building syrveying, architecture, quantity surveying, structural engineering, service engineering, project management, security advice, health and safety advice, fire advice and archeology. This breakdown is all that can be supplied without incurring disproportionate costs. Note: the above figures do not include any consultancy work commissioned by PSA, who were responsible for all building works until the end of 1991/92. The peak in 1993/94 was principally caused by the New Jewel House at the Tower of London.
No 664
How many consultants have been asked to review the security services at Kensington Palace; what they recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of the consultants used.
1466Warising from (a) unsatisfactory staffing levels and (b) other factors; [36316]
(5) how many consultants have been asked to review the warding services at the Tower of London; what these consultants recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of consultants used; [36312]
(6) since the contract for state apartment warding at Hampton Court palace was placed with Group 4 in april, what complaints there have been either from (a) the Historic Royal Palaces agency and (b) members of the public; [36315]
(7) how many reports have been commissioned regarding security at each of the royal palaces; and what these reports have recommended; [36311]
(8) what particular skills are regarded as being essential in relation to the warding of (a) the Jewel house in the Tower of London, (b) Kensington palace and (c) Hampton Court palace; and what aspects of these skills prohibit the mounting of an in-house bid for the administration of the service in each case; [36317]
(9) how many consultants have been asked to review the security services at Hampton Court palace; what they recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of consultants used. [36313]
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyResponsibility for the subjects of these questions has been delegated to the Historic Royal Palaces agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Beeton. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member and place copies of his letter in the Libraries of the House.
Letter from David Beeton to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 26 July 1995:
1467WThe Secretary of State for the National Heritage has asked me to reply to your questions concerning security, warding and consultancies within the Historic Royal Palaces Agency. Your questions and my responses are set out below.No 666How much money the Historic Royal Palaces Agency has spent on consultants since its establishment in 1988; and if she will list the consultants concerned.The Agency has spent the following amounts on consultancies.Two consultancies have reviewed the security services at Kensington Palace, within the last 2 years, as part of an overall review of these services at all the Historic Royal Palaces. Whilst the content of these reports must remain confidential for security reasons, their recommendations will continue to be taken full account of in the contracting out process which will not alter security standards. These will remain HRP's responsibility.The cost of these consultancies was £9,276.No 669What is the current annual cost of running the Security and Warding Services in the Royal Palaces; and if she will break the cost down (a) for the standard service, (b) for staffing special functions and (c) for overheads, separately identified for the Security Services at Hampton Court Palace, the Security Service at Kensington Palace, and the Warding Service at the Jewel House Tower of London.
Security and Warding Hampton Court Palace £k Kew Palace £k Kensington Palace £k Jewel House (ToL) £k Other (ToL) £k Banqueting House £k Total £k Security Warding Total 820 1,200 40 269 553 2,392 46 5,320
The cost of staffing for special functions and the cost of overheads are together not thought to exceed 10 per cent. of the total but to produce a more detailed analysis would incur disproportionate cost.No 671
What financial or other redress the Historic Royal Palaces Agency has had to obtain from Group 4 in relation to the State Apartment Warding at Hampton Court Palace arising from (a) unsatisfactory staffing levels and (b) other factors.Financial redress during the first three months of the contract was less than 0.5 per cent. of the contract value due to temporary shortfalls in manning levels. That is no more than occurred with the previous in-house operations. No redress has been required in respect of any other factors during that period.No 673
How many consultants have been asked to review the warding services at the Tower of London; what these consultants recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of consultants used.Two consultancies have reviewed various aspects of the warding services at the Tower of London within the last 3 years and made a number of recommendations regarding the administration of the service which have been taken full account of in the contracting out process. The cost of the consultancies was £47k.No 675
Since the contract for State Apartment Warding at Hampton Court Palace was placed with Group 4 in April, what complaints there have been either from (a) the Historic Royal Palaces Agency and (b) members of the public.The Historic Royal Palaces Agency has recently discussed with Group 4 a shortfall in its manning levels during July. These were the result of a backlog in security clearances, not caused by Group 4, nor by the security status of their proposed employees. This shortfall is now resolved.There have been 2 complaints from members of the public concerning the State Apartment Warders, during that period, together with many more letters of praise.No 676
How many reports have been commissioned regarding security at each of the Royal Palaces; and what these reports have recommended.In the last 2 years 12 security reports were commissioned as part of a general security review at each of the Palaces and for some specific projects (e.g. Crown Jewels project). Whilst the contents of these reports must remain confidential for security reasons their recommendations will, where relevant, continue to be taken full account of in the contracting out process which will not alter standards.No 680
What particular skills are regarded as being essential in relation to the warding of (a) the Jewel House in the Tower of London, (b) Kensington Palace and (c) Hampton Court Palace; and what aspects of these skills prohibit the mounting of an in-house bid for the administration of the service in each case.The essential skills are those needed to provide the high standards of warding service in the Palaces including honesty, integrity, security awareness and good communications. These skills are already available through the existing staff who will transfer over to the new contractor. It was not any perceived lack of skills which prompted the decision not to allow an in-house bid, but the considered view of the Historic Royal Palaces Agency that in future the warding of the Palaces could be provided more effectively with no loss in standards by contracting out day to day operation of the service to manpower management specialists. The Agency will work1468Win close partnership with them and will continue to be responsible for setting the standards of service and monitoring them. It will also ensure that the staff employed have all the necessary skills to deliver the specified service.No 681
How many consultants have been asked to review the security services at Hampton Court Palace; and what they recommended regarding the administration of the service; and what was the cost of consultants used.One concultant was employed to review the security services at Hampton Court Palace during the last 2 years at a cost of £17,000. Whilst the content of this review must remain confidential for security reasons, the recommendations will continue to be taken full account of in the contracting out process which will not alter security standards.