§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that any company supplying security services to his Department should be a member of the self-regulating organisations in the private security industry. [10448]
§ Mr. StrawCurrent policy on appraisal of suppliers—including those providing security services—is to include, as best practice, criteria covering membership of self-regulating organisations. We recommend that
proof of enrolment on a professional or trade register, or register of companies in the country in which the supplier is establishedis obtained. Such membership is not in itself mandatory for prospective suppliers of goods and services to the Home Department. It is one of a range of criteria on which a conclusion will be reached about the suppliers' ability to perform the proposed contract.The planned introduction of statutory regulations for the private security industry, which I announced on 15 July 1997, will necessitate a review of our present guidance on supplier appraisal. This will follow a wide consultation exercise with the security industry over the next year.