Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which contracts with his Department MTCNovo are currently (a) bidding for and (b) have successfully bid for; and what role TDPi consultancy play in awarding those contracts.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation made a Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 14 March which can be found at the following link: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-03-14/HCWS619/. We take all allegations of impropriety extremely seriously and have launched an immediate investigation with the support of Cabinet Office. I will update the House once its work is complete.

The Department publishes all opportunities to bid for contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

The Department does not disclose details of who is bidding in an ongoing competition, as this is commercially sensitive. Once a contract has been awarded, winning bidders are published via Contracts Finder. MTCNovo was successful in bidding in competitions for the ownership of two Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). Details can be found at the following links:

Thames Valley CRC: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1016ac86-f36e-47bb-a73b-63d0f1f42059

London CRC: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/32194588-7236-4e57-8e96-f780b11ec66f

MTCNovo has also been awarded the contract to run Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre (STC), which will begin on 5 May 2016. Award details will be published on Contracts Finder in due course.