Prison Escort Services And Contracting Out

EDM number 2417 in 1992-93, proposed by Barbara Roche on 26/07/1993.

That this House notes with displeasure the finding of the Prison Reform Trust that over 140 police and prison officer jobs have already been cut as a result of the Government's decision to ask Group Four to run part of the prison escort services; reminds the Government of ministers' claims that contracting out would release police and prison officers to concentrate on more skilled jobs; recalls that contracting out has actually led to the replacement of properly trained and paid staff with less well paid, less well trained and in some cases totally unqualified staff, including occasions where Group Four office staff have been asked to drive prisoners to court; and urges the Home Secretary to act in order to protect public safety and the care of prisoners rather than to increase the takings of companies who want to profit from the prison system.

This motion has been signed by a total of 40 MPs.