Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether potential private sector providers were invited to submit bids on proposed secure colleges.
Answered on
16 July 2014
In February 2013 the Government published the consultation Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention. The consultation stated that: “we would like interested parties to develop propositions of their vision for implementing Secure Colleges”. Responses to the consultation were received from from statutory organisations, charities, private companies and individuals.
A competition to appoint a provider to design and build the Secure College pathfinder was launched under the Ministry of Justice's Strategic Alliance Agreement Framework in January 2014. Tenders were submitted by four bidders and Wates has been selected as the preferred bidder.
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, currently before this House, will create the statutory framework for Secure Colleges and a separate competition to appoint an operator for the Secure College pathfinder is due to commence in 2015.