Prisons Competition

Debate between Lord Clarke of Nottingham and Nadhim Zahawi

Thursday 31st March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Clarke]

I agree that localism is extremely important in this field, and I think it will be preserved because of the process whereby major contractors subcontract to voluntary and charitable groups. The relevant voluntary and charitable groups are different from place to place, and some of them are quite local. The people who set up the arrangements in Peterborough dealt with a collection of voluntary and charitable bodies quite different from those dealt with by the people who negotiated the contract at Doncaster, because local services and local ideas for tackling reoffending are different. I very much hope that, as the hon. Gentleman says, we shall keep that quality of local enthusiasm and commitment when we rope voluntary, charitable and third sector people into tackling reoffending.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State tell the House how many contracts awarded to private sector contractors have been terminated due to poor performance?

[Mr Clarke]

None has been terminated due to poor performance, as far as I am aware.