§ Mr. BeithTo 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 prisoner escort services; and if he will list the expiry date of each existing contract. [46239]
§ Ms QuinThe contracted out court escort service cost the Prison Service £89 million in 1997/98. This represents a full year's operation in seven of the eight contract areas and partial operation in the last (the North of England). The contract for that area commenced in April 1997 but was implemented in two phases, with the second not starting until July.
The contracts cover the transportation of prisoners, other than those in the highest security category (Category A), from prisons and police stations to court, their custody while there, and their return to prison. In addition, the contract for the North of England includes the option for the provision of hospital bedwatches, day attendance for medical treatment, compassionate home visits, etc. If an establishment exercises this option it meets the charges locally. These are not collated centrally and are not included in the above-mentioned costs.
The expiry date for each contract is shown in the table. Contracts were let initially for either five or seven year periods but are renewable up to a maximum of fourteen years.
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Area Location Contractor Full Commenced 1st Phase Expiry Date 1 South Wales & South West Reliance 1 October 1996 1 April 1996 30 September 2003 2 South & South East Premier 1 November 1996 6 May 1996 31 October 2003 3 London Metro Area Securicor 26 June 1995 27 June 1994 30 June 1999 4 East Anglia Group 4 1 January 1996 1 July 1995 31 December 2000 5 West Midlands & Central Wales Premier 1 December 1996 3 June 1996 30 November 2003 6 Merseyside, Manchester & North Wales Group 4 6 February 1996 7 August 1995 31 January 2001 7 East Midlands & Humberside Group 4 1 April 1993 1n/a 4 April 2001 8 North England Group 4 7 July 1997 7 April 1997 6 July 2004 1n/a —not applicable