As we have previously stated, the contracts between the Department and all private prison providers require the Contractor to be responsible for all staffing matters, including ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons. There is no requirement in the contracts to inform the Department of staffing levels in privately managed prisons, nor agree those levels with the Department. There have been no changes made to the required staffing information since 2012. The Government does not publish workforce statistics on prison custody officers in post at any privately managed prison. Each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) whose role it is to monitor performance at the prison across a range of indicators. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed with the provider, and, where necessary, appropriate action is taken in accordance with the contract. If the contract management team are concerned that outcomes are affected by problems related to staffing, based on local intelligence the controller observes on site, then this will form part of contract management processes and procedures and dialogue will be had with the provider. If we require outcomes to be improved we will expect that action by the provider will address any matters of staffing, such as levels of attrition. We hold both public and private sector prisons to account for the outcomes they deliver. As the Department does not currently collect workforce data from private prison providers, to publish these or require the provider to do so would require significant changes to the contracts of all private prison providers and we currently have no plans to do this. As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 29 November, this Government remains committed to a role for the private sector in operating custodial services. As part of the competition process, we will undertake rigorous operational and financial assessments of bids put forward, including staffing commitments. The performance of all providers is, and will continue to be, robustly managed and contracts for the operation of new prisons will not be awarded unless bids meet quality and value for money thresholds.