Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department’s news story of 5 November 2019, Approved Enforcement Agency Services Contract Awarded, whether departmental trade unions have raised any concerns about those awards.

The Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS) oppose the decision to fully outsource the Warrant of Arrest service, which will result in the transfer of HMCTS employed CEOs being transferred to Approved Enforcement Agencies under the TUPE regulations.

The DTUS have expressed concern about the financial viability of the providers post Covid-19 and have also raised concerns about some of the measure that have been proposed.

The above matters have been addressed by the Department and the providers throughout the ongoing consultation process.