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Home Office;Prison Service

Answer

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to commission a study to evaluate the performance of Premier Prison Services Ltd. at Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement. [8057] Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 9 January 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the performance of Premier Prison Services Ltd at Doncaster prison. There are no plans at present to commission a study to evaluate the performance of Premier Prison Services Ltd at Doncaster prison. Contract compliance is monitored by the on-site Prison Service Controller, who will as part of his function draw the Director's attention to any matters that need either to be rectified or merit further review. This will be done variously in writing, at formal meetings or through regular informal liaison and, if necessary, a default notice. This is part of the daily process of monitoring compliance with the contract for running the prison. The prison is also subject to inspections by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, whose annual report on a prison is laid before Parliament and an independent Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors has unlimited access to the prison.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

8057; 269 c206-8W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Contracts for services Standards Premier Prison Services HMP/YOI Doncaster