§ 28. Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the inspected companies scheme for the private security industry. [142671]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Private Security Industry Bill, which was introduced into the House of Lords on 7 December, provides for the establishment of the Security Industry Authority, and for the authority to run an approved contractor scheme.
414WThe aim of this scheme is to maintain and raise standards in designated sectors of the private security industry. Under the provisions of the Bill, providers of security services in England and Wales will be able to apply to the Security Industry Authority for approval according to a set of criteria which the authority will determine and publish.
The scheme will allow approved companies to advertise themselves as such, and will thus allow companies and members of the public to identify providers of security services who satisfy the authority's criteria. The authority will maintain a register of approved companies, which will be open for pubic consultation.