To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what criteria it was decided to invite security firms with long-standing contracts with the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland to tender, following the Inland Revenue's decision to bring all sites in Northern Ireland subject to private guarding under one contract; and on what basis it was decided not to invite certain such firms to tender for the contract.

[holding answer 9 June 1988]: There were two main criteria for selecting firms to tender for the Inland Revenue guarding contracts. First, the firms had to have the capacity to provide and maintain security guarding at all the Revenue offices where this was required throughout Northern Ireland, including back-up and support facilities. Second, the firms had to be members of the British Security Industry Association or operate to a standard equivalent to that set by the association.