Diplomatic Service: Manpower

Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of employing a full-time overseas security officer (a) as an employee of his Department and (b) under a private contract; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains security staff in around 200 locations to provide a wide range of functions, and costs vary due to local circumstances. No global comparison of the cost of direct employees and contractors has been undertaken.

Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of the Control Risks contract for the provision of overseas security officers in each year since the contract was let; what mechanisms exist to ensure that value for money is achieved through this contract; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn
The estimated cost of the Control Risks static guarding contract, since it started in October 2003 until the end of the 2007-08 financial year (FY), is £4.09 million:

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|Financial year|£        |
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|2003-04       |247,186  |
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|2004-05       |779,372  |
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|2005-06       |913,084  |
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|2006-07       |1,030,906|
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|2007-08       |1,120,123|
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The contract was competitively tendered and is subject to continuous contract management and monitoring. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office subjects all contracts to a rigorous procurement process in line with public procurement guidelines and best practice.