An investigation has found five government departments have awarded Serco and G4S 14 pieces of additional work worth £350m during their probation periods which ended in February for Serco and April for G4S.

The probation was understood to have banned Serco and G4S from winning any new government work until after both companies had undertaken a period of “corporate renewal” for overcharging on electronic monitoring contract.

The additional work that was awarded to the two outsourcing giants was clearly communicated to parliament. The government have now been accused of miscommunicating the idea that all new work was on hold until after the review. Both G4S and Serco remain under investigation.

Serco pulls out of managing Mansfield District Council town’s leisure services