asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many private security firms are employed by Government Departments for the protection of buildings and other undertakings within their responsibility; and if he will list the firms concerned.

The Civil Service Department is responsible for giving general advice on departmental expenditure on the services of private security firms but the negotiation of individual contracts is a matter for each Department. No central record is maintained of the number of contracts entered into or of the security firms concerned. Such information could not be obtained without disproportionate costs to public funds.