HC Deb 19 June 1998 vol 314 cc341-2W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to his Department in the last year for which figures are available of the provision of electronic monitoring services; and if he will list the expiry date of each existing contract. [46240]

Ms Quin

Because of considerations of commercial confidentiality, it would not be appropriate to publish details of the payments made to contractors which are the major part of the cost of curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring.

Research into the trials has estimated that the average cost of a curfew order enforced by electronic monitoring would be around £1,900, if the scheme were available throughout England and Wales. However, this does not take account of the effect of providing electronic monitoring for curfew orders simultaneously with the proposed Home Detention Curfew scheme.

Both of the current contracts have been extended until 28 February 1999.