To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16507 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 May 2005, whether the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services was fully rolled out by that date and, if so, why no substantive answer was given to that question.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

The contract was fully rolled out on 21 February 2005 and around 200 officers have been made available.