MOD GUARDS TENDERING PROCESS

Motion Text

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.