HL Deb 23 February 2004 vol 658 c28WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their view of the independent review team into the operations of the Criminal Records Bureau which led to the renegotiation of the contract with Capita; and what estimates they have made of the financial outcome achieved by the renegotiation. [HL1201]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

As my noble friend the then Minister for Criminal Justice, Sentencing and Law Reform stated, in response to a Question by the noble Lord, Lord Hoyle, on 27 February 2003 (Official Report, cols WA 49–53), the Government welcomed the findings and recommendations of the independent review team. My noble friend said that, as recommended by the independent review team, the Government would seek to renegotiate the contract with Capita so that it reflected the changed environment in which the Criminal Records Bureau would be operating. My honourable friend the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety made a Statement in another place on 15 January (Official Report, cols 41–42WS) in which she announced that a revised contract had been signed and that this is a major step forward for the CRB and represents a substantial improvement over the previous terms. Copies of the Statement are available in the Library.