HC Deb 24 April 1996 vol 276 cc170-1W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a summary of the main contracts with the private sector for the provision of prison buildings and services, including information on the duration of contracts, and the terms of any break or review clauses, for each Prison Service establishment. [26038]

Miss Widdecombe

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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 24 April 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about placing a summary of the main contracts with the private sector for the provision of custodial services in the Library of the House of Commons. The contracts for the supply of custodial services at the Wolds, Blakenhurst, Doncaster and Buckley Hall prisons have been placed in the Library. On 3 April, the contracts for the first two design, construct, manage and finance contracts for the provision of prisoner places at Bridgend and Fazakerley under the Government's Private Finance Initiative were also placed in the Library. The only details not included in those copies is a relatively small amount of commercially sensitive information and, in the case of Bridgend and Fazakerley, an extensive design schedule which is sensitive for security reasons. The parts dealing with duration and break clauses have been placed in the Library in full.