§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the training consultants commissioned by the Metropolitan Police during 1997 and 1998 to date. [42806]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Commissioner tells me that training in the Metropolitan Police is delivered on three levels: centrally; area; and divisional. He tells me that, because of the devolved nature of the Metropolitan Police, the majority of training activities and consultants are arranged at a local level in one of its Divisions or Branches. This is to allow local training or consultation to be bought according to need. As a result, the information requested is not readily available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, the Commissioner tells me that contracts for the value of £10,000 and above, and those contracts which may generate particular difficulties, are let in consultation with the Metropolitan Police's Department of Procurement and Commercial Services. He tells me that the formal contracts for training have been placed by the unit over the last year in regard to the following topics:
- Public Order Strategic Command Course
- Driving Techniques
- Finance and Resource Manager Training
- Policing Diversity
- Specialist Operations Workshops
- Resettlement—Outplacement Services.
The Commissioner also tells me that a number of companies have asked that confidentiality clauses be included in their contracts so that they cannot be identified. The reasons given were generally security or commercial grounds, I am told. As the Metropolitan Police have agreed to include such clauses in their contracts, the Commissioner is unable to provide me with the information requested. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is currently undertaking a thematic inspection of training, which will include the Metropolitan Police, and I have asked that contractual arrangements for training be included in that inspection.