§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to involve private companies in(a) consulting and (b) administration in respect of the prison workshops at HMP Garth and HMP Wymott; and if he will list the companies which have been invited to tender. [22062]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 22 December 1997]: As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 14 November 1997, Official Report, columns 688–89, there are no plans to change the arrangements for the provision and administration of prison workshops at either Garth or Wymott.
Both establishments undertake a small percentage of work for the private sector (most work undertaken is for the internal prison market). Prisoners produce and assemble a range of goods for mostly locally based companies.
Wymott is one of 18 establishments selected for additional support and funding by the Prison Service as part of the wider Prison Service Workshop Expansion Programme. In order to meet the overall aims of the programme, Wymott and Prison Service headquarters will be jointly involved in seeking additional work from the private sector. Negotiations are currently underway with a local based company, Giraffe Products Limited. for the manufacture of music stands. It is anticipated that this will be a Private Finance Initiative, requiring the company to provide additional capital for the purchase of either plant or equipment to undertake the work.
The Company's involvement is restricted to that of customer.