§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what formal notifications are required when the ownership of a custody or detention centre operated by private companies on behalf of the Government is transferred to another company(a) before and (b) after transfer. [159861]
§ Beverley HughesThe Contract contains a provision requiring the Contractor to notify the Home Office if there is a change of more than 3 per cent. in the ownership of the company. A change of control for the Contractor requires the prior written approval of the Home Office— such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If shares are listed in the stock exchange such consent is to be obtained as soon as the Contractor becomes aware of the change of control.
§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has been consulted over plans to change the ownership of Yarlswood Detention Centre from Group 4 (Falck); and if he will make a statement. [159862]
§ Beverley HughesMy right hon. friend, the Home Secretary, has not been consulted. However there are no current plans to change the ownership of the Yarlswood Removal Centre. The contract is currently run by Global Solutions UK Ltd.(GSL) a division of Group 4 Falck.
There have been recent press announcements regarding the potential merger of Group 4 Falck with Securicor. This relates to the division of Group 4 Falck which deals with cash in transit and guarding business, and does not affect the custodial business run by Global Solutions. In conjunction with the merger Group 4 Falck 492W will separate its security business from the GSL business. GSL will be a division of the Group 4 company to be listed as Falck A/S.
As with all public sector contracts, performance will be subject to regular review, and continued provision of the service dependent upon satisfactory performance.