HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc394-5W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 1999,Official Report, column 156, on the private finance initiative, if he will list (i) the amounts by which the contract payments were reduced, (ii) the reason for each reduction, (iii) the dates on which the reductions were made and (iv) the period of the contract they relate to; if he will list the decisions on further reductions in contract payments which are pending; and if he will make a statement. [90711]

Description/amounts by which contract payment reduced Reasons for reduction Dates reduction made Contract period deductions relate to
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
£4.5 million Delay in delivering full implementation of programme Between 24 April 1996 and 31 March 1999 24 April 1996–31 March 1999
Medway Secure Training Centre
1. £618,721 1. Non-availability of places Between September 1998 and May 1999 1. 18 July 1998–30 April 1999
2. £61,161 2. Failure to meet performance standards 2. 17 April 1998–30 April 1999
Data Capture (United Kingdom Passport Agency)
£66,931 (service credits) 1. Failure in systems availability (£47,235). March 1999 5 October 1998–31 March 1999
2. Accurancy errors in data passed to United Kingdom Passport Agency
Manufacture of Digital Passports (United Kingdom Passport Agency)
£4,489 (service credits) Faults in passport books Between 5 October 1998-to date 5 October 1998-to date
Altcourse Prison
£28,089 Failure to meet performance standards May 1998 December 1997-February 1998
Lowdham Grange Prison
1.£702 1. Unavailable place 1. July 1998 1. 14–22 June 1999
2. £82,645 2. Failure to meet performance standards 2. Between October 1998 and March 1999 2. June 1998-February 1999
Parc Prison
1. £54,782 1. Failure to meet standard contract requirements 1. March 1998 1. February 1998
2. £751,309 2. Failure to meet specific performance standards 2. Between May 1998 and October 1999 2. 17 November 1997–30 November 1998
3. £835 3. Doubling cell occupation beyond permitted level 3. Between August 1998 and June 1999 3. July 1998-May 1999
Prison PABX System
£441,382 Late delivery of systems Between April 1996 and October 1997 April 1996-October 1997

Of the contracts referred to in the table, further payment reductions are due to be implemented as follows:

(a) Immigration and Nationality Directorate Case work Programme In response to the continued delay in full delivery of the programme, payments to the contractor will be made at a lower level until such time as delivery is complete.

(b) Medway Secure Training Centre In response to failure in performance during the period 1 May 1999 to 31 July 1999, further payment reductions are due—amount yet to be determined.

(c) Data Capture (United Kingdom Passports Agency) Further reductions relating to timeliness of delivery of data and system availability in respect of this contract are under negotiation.

(d) Parc Prison Further reductions for double cell occupation and failure to meet performance standards for the period between 1 March 1999 and 30 June 1999 are due. Amount: £2,287.