HC Deb 01 December 1997 vol 302 cc52-4W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions and on what basis the Prison Service Contracts and Competition Group has provided consultancy, advice and assistance to foreign governments and private contractors; what income has been received as a result on those occasions; and if he will make a statement. [18090]

Ms Quin

Since 1995–97, members of the Prison Service Contracts and Competition Group (CCG) have met or provided information on request to officials of the following national governments:

  • Australia
  • Colombia
  • Canada
  • Fiji
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • New Zealand
  • United States of America

Similar assistance has been provided to the following provincial or state governments or administrations:

  • South Australia
  • Western Australia
  • Victoria
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Oklahoma

These contacts were either part of an itinerary of visits arranged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or, in the majority of cases, reflect the reciprocal exchange of information between the Prison Service and other prison services throughout the world.

More extensive advice and assistance was provided this year to the Republic of South Africa in connection with its pilot programmed for the design, construction, management and financing (DCMF) by private contractors of 5,400 new prison places. The Head of CCG was an independent member of the evaluation panel that assessed application by contractors to prequalify to tender for these contracts. CCG also arranged a short briefing programmed in the United Kingdom, which included meetings with officials at the Treasury and staff of the Private Finance Panel Executive, for officials from the Republic of South Africa's ministries of Public Works, Corrections and Finance.

There were no charges for such assistance; most of the meetings were of a short duration.

Relations with private contractors are restricted to the administration of existing contracts and actions necessary for the procurement of future contracts.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much income the Prison Service received for staff recruitment advertisements placed in Prison Service publications by private prison and escort service operators in the last six financial years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [18091]

Ms Quin

Prison Service News has carried three such advertisements during the past two years, earning from them £990 in the financial year 1996–97 and £200 in the current financial year (to the end of October). There were no such advertisements placed in 1995–96, the only other year for which such detailed advertising records are available.

All income from such advertising is appropriated in aid of Prison Service expenditure through the Supply Estimates.