Prison Escort Services (Hansard, 18 February 1997)

§ Mr. George Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what procedures exist to monitor the number of hours worked in one session of work by drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services; [15153]
(2) what checks are carried out on the (a) health and (b) character of drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services; and what procedures are used to monitor these factors; [15151]
(3) what limits are placed on the number of hours worked per shift by drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services. [15150]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for these matters 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. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about drivers employed by private sector companies who are responsible for escorting prisoners. Most prisoner movements under escort are to and from court and are now virtually all undertaken by specialist court escort contractors. The contracts require full compliance with the provisions of relevant Road Traffic and Road Safety legislation. Each company is required to hold an Operator's Licence and its procedures and records are subject to inspection by the Department of Transport. There is no additional routine inspection by court escort monitors of the hours worked by drivers or of their shift patterns although such records must be made available on request. The health of drivers is primarily a matter for the contractor, both on recruitment and subsequently, although again there is an overriding requirement to comply with all relevant legislation. Drivers of the larger vehicles must hold Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licences (PCVs). Drivers employed by companies contracted to provide a court escort service must be certificated as Prisoner Custody Officers under the Criminal Justice Act 1991. This involves such enquiries as are deemed necessary into the background and character of each applicant. Without such certification employment cannot commence. The provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act do not apply. There are also contracts issued for the provision of vehicles and drivers for the transportation of prisoners for other purposes. These too reflect the need to comply with all appropriate legislation.
515W

§ Mr. Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each current contract for prison escort services indicating(a) the company, (b) the value of the contract, (c) its area of operation and (d) its duration. [15152]

§ 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.

Area Contractor Start Final phase End¹ Value²£ million

1 South Wales and south-west England Reliance custodial services 1 April 1996 1 October 1996 30 September 2003 60

2 South and south-east England Premier prison services 6 May 1996 1 November 1996 31 October 2003 61

3 London Metropolitan Securicor custodial services 1 June 1994 26 June 1995 30 June 1999 ³92

4 East Anglia Group 4 court services 1 July 1995 1 January 1996 31 December 2000 42

5 West Midlands and central Wales Group 4 court services 3 June 1996 2 December 1996 1 December 2003 51

6 North Wales and north-west England Group 4 court services 7 August 1995 5 February 1996 4 February 2001 65

7 East Midlands and Humberside Group 4 court services 5 April 1993 —⁴ 4 April 1998 ⁵45

8 North England Group 4 court services 7 April 1997 7 July 1998 6 July 2004 ⁶49

Notes:

¹ This is the end date for the contract, however, all contracts include options for an extension up to a maximum duration of 14 years.

² The value is the estimated total value for the initial duration of the contract based on first year prices.

³ The value of the Securicor contract for area 3 takes account of a re-resourcing activity which took place before the end of phase 1.

⁴ The area 7 contract was not phased in, full operation commenced on the start date.

⁵ Area 7 was the first contract and included a facility for the resource levels to be reassessed after implementation. The value takes account of this re-resourcing exercise.

⁶ The area 8 contract includes a non mandatory option for establishments to utilise the contract for external movements. The value detailed above includes an estimated cost for external movements.

Area		Contractor	Start	Final phase	End¹	Value²£ million
1	South Wales and south-west England	Reliance custodial services	1 April 1996	1 October 1996	30 September 2003	60
2	South and south-east England	Premier prison services	6 May 1996	1 November 1996	31 October 2003	61
3	London Metropolitan	Securicor custodial services	1 June 1994	26 June 1995	30 June 1999	³92
4	East Anglia	Group 4 court services	1 July 1995	1 January 1996	31 December 2000	42
5	West Midlands and central Wales	Group 4 court services	3 June 1996	2 December 1996	1 December 2003	51
6	North Wales and north-west England	Group 4 court services	7 August 1995	5 February 1996	4 February 2001	65
7	East Midlands and Humberside	Group 4 court services	5 April 1993	—⁴	4 April 1998	⁵45
8	North England	Group 4 court services	7 April 1997	7 July 1998	6 July 2004	⁶49
Notes:
¹ This is the end date for the contract, however, all contracts include options for an extension up to a maximum duration of 14 years.
² The value is the estimated total value for the initial duration of the contract based on first year prices.
³ The value of the Securicor contract for area 3 takes account of a re-resourcing activity which took place before the end of phase 1.
⁴ The area 7 contract was not phased in, full operation commenced on the start date.
⁵ Area 7 was the first contract and included a facility for the resource levels to be reassessed after implementation. The value takes account of this re-resourcing exercise.
⁶ The area 8 contract includes a non mandatory option for establishments to utilise the contract for external movements. The value detailed above includes an estimated cost for external movements.