§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the methodology and research used to compare the cost of public and private gaols during 1993–94; and if he will make a statement. [33441]
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§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 20 June 1996]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. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 21 June 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking if he will publish the methodology and research used to compare the cost of public and private jails during 1993–94.It is not possible to publish the study carried out by LEK Partnership comparing costs of private and public sector prisons using 1993–94 data, as it contains a considerable amount of commercially confidential information. This is because cost information was drawn from tender documents, as actual operating costs were not then available for the full year.
Summary results: LEK study of private and public sector performance Percentage Private prison Public comparator group Cost1 per CNA lower by Blakenhurst Bullingdon Holme House Elmley 14 Doncaster Bullingdon Holme House Elmley 14 Buckley Hall Everthorpe Haverigg Ranby 26