MOD GUARDS TENDERING PROCESS

Early day motion 165, tabled 11 July 2017 by Lisa Nandy (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House expresses concerns about the tendering of Ministry of Defence (MoD) guarding services; rejects any change in contracting of MoD guards which removes the emphasis from safety and security; urges the Government not to indulge in a cost-cutting exercise; is appalled by reports that, if taken over by a contractor, commercial guards could be guarding a supermarket one day and a nuclear site the next; values the levels of experience, expertise and training current MoD guards have in reserve; recognises the difficulties of MoD security contracts already awarded to the private sector; notes that value for money is a factor in the procurement process and presses for any comparisons drawn during the decision-making process to be made on a level playing field; is alarmed by talk of companies sub-contracting even before the contract has been awarded; and urges that the decision on tendering is made in the public interest.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Scottish National Party 8, Plaid Cymru 4, Labour/Co-operative 2, DUP 1, Independent 1.