Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Private Contractors: Justice Services

Tuesday 8 July 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Serco was fined 68.5 million in 2013 for overcharging the Government on electronic tagging contracts.
  • The Minister stated that Serco's performance has been unacceptable but is currently improving.
  • All contract options remain under review, including the possibility of bringing services back in-house.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joshua Reynolds Lib Dem Maidenhead
Justice & Courts
Context

In 2013, Serco was fined £68.5 million for overcharging the Government for electronic tagging but continued to hold contracts in 2023 despite Secretary of State's comments about poor performance.

Question

Given that Serco was fined £68.5 million in 2013 for overcharging the Government for electronic tagging and it was still awarded a new £200 million contract in 2023, can the Minister explain what a private company needs to do to be seen as unfit to hold such a contract?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

While the performance of Serco has been unacceptable, as the hon. Gentleman says, we have made progress and performance is improving. We have imposed fines for poor performance, and will not hesitate to employ further contractual remedies or other measures should they be required.

Partly answered

Not addressed: did not specify criteria for determining a company's fitness to retain a contract

How: Progress Is Improving

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Q2 Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Justice & Courts
Context

Channel 4 has revealed that the contract with Serco is fundamentally failing, despite comments from the Secretary of State in March indicating poor performance. A written question response in June still deemed Serco's performance unacceptable.

Question

Where are we with bringing Serco around to perform properly? If it does not do so, will the Government consider cancelling that contract and bringing those services back in-house?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

All options are always under review, but as I have said, performance under that contract is improving. The Prisons Minister in the other place is gripping this issue, and we will get to where we need to get to.

Not addressed: did not confirm if cancellation of contract is being considered

How: Options Under Review, Performance Improving

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