§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the former Prison Service Director of Security has had access to the criteria for the competition for the operation of HMP Manchester and HMP Blakenhurst; and if he will make a statement; [104737]
(2) if members of the Prison Service Management Board have had access to the criteria for the competition for the design, construction, management and financing of HMP Peterborough and HMP Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [104738]
§ Mr. BoatengThe competitions for Blakenhurst, Manchester, Peterborough and Ashford prisons have not yet started and the evaluation criteria for those competitions have not yet been developed.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern senior employees of the Prison Service taking new employment with private companies which have contracts with or are seeking contracts with the Prison Service; how the rules have operated in relation to the former Director of Security; and if he will make a statement. [104739]
§ Mr. BoatengThe rules governing business appointments were last revised by the Cabinet Office in 1996 in the light of recommendations made by the Nolan Committee. The rules require senior civil servants in certain categories or other civil servants who have had 455W official dealings with their prospective employer to report offers of appointment. Approval is required for the initial appointment and any further appointment within two years of leaving Crown employment. These rules have been applied in relation to the former Prison Service Director of Security who made an application on 7 January 2000. In compliance with these rules, the advice of the Cabinet Office is being obtained before her application can be responded to.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Home Office business appointment rules apply to members of the Prison Service Management Board; and if he will make a statement. [104735]
§ Mr. BoatengAll members of the Prison Service Management Board are subject to the rules on business appointments which have been issued by the Cabinet Office.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if members of the Prison Service Management Board had access to the deliberations of the evaluation panel reports of the bids for HMP Doncaster; and if he will make a statement. [104736]
§ Mr. BoatengThe members of the Prison Service Management Board received copies of the evaluation report of the bids for Doncaster prison in October 1999.