To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of his Department's contracts held with SERCO in each of the last five financial years.

[Official Report, 10 February 2009, Vol. 487, c. 1878W.]

Letter of correction from Bob Ainsworth:

An error has been identified in the table of the written answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Flello) on 10 February 2009. The 2007-08 figure of £763 million was incorrect and should have been £595 million.

The correct answer is as follows: (253255)

The value of contracts with SERCO Group plc, in terms of spend, in each of the last five financial years was as follows:

The figures are shown exclusive of VAT rounded to the nearest million. They exclude any contracts placed by MOD Trading Funds or by British Defence staff (Washington) and low-value purchase transactions, for which records are not held centrally.