§ Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fyldeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome following the review of the powers of controllers at contracted out prisons, announced on 19 June 1997. [HL3491]
§ Lord Williams of MostynMy right honourable friend the Home Secretary has carefully reviewed the existing powers of controllers at privately managed prisons and has decided that broadly the current arrangements should be retained. Increasing the powers of controllers would reduce the contractors' operational responsibility for managing the prisons. The essence of contracting out is that optimum risk should be transferred to the private sector; efficient contract enforcement would seem to be the best way to ensure value for money from these contracts.