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 that have since been addressed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

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 MOJ has no reason to believe the service providers are unable to carry out the contract deliverables.

The MOJ has an established contractual relationship with the incoming service providers. From the onset of Covid-19, engagement has continued to understand and assess the operational and financial impact and whether service providers were likely to seek any contractual relief to support long term service provision. These discussions are ongoing.

The Department and the providers have addressed the issues raised by DTUS throughout the ongoing consultation process.