HC Deb 22 May 1996 vol 278 c246W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30122]

Mr. Howard

Services provided by Home Office agencies which has been market tested since their creation are as followsPrison Service

  • Operation of Manchester prison—won by the in-house bid team.
  • Operation of Buckley Hall prison—contract awarded to Group 4.
  • Warehousing and distribution, Prison Service stores at Branston—won by the in-house bid team.
  • Prison Service College, Newbold Revel, administration and maintenance—won by the in-house bid team.

The value of Prison Service business conducted under contract or service level agreement after a market test, exceeds £27 million per annum at 1994–95 prices. Estimated savings are £9.26 million per annum.

No market tests have been completed by the Forensic Science Service, Fire Service College or United Kingdom Passport Agency of the services that they provide to external customers.