Prison Service (Hansard, 1 March 1990)

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East on 19 February,Official Report, column 595, what was the cost of the contract awarded to the PA Consulting Group for its review of the prison service organisation above establishment level from its commencement until the end of its first extension in December 1989.

§ Mr. Mellor
The projected price of the contract was £271,230, and £255,740 has been paid to date. Both sums include VAT.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the role of the PA Consulting Group on the studies which led to changes in working practices in prison establishments, known as "fresh start"; and what was the cost of their work.

§ Mr. Mellor
PA Management Consultants were engaged by the prison service in September 1985 to assist in studies of complementing in prisons and of the shift systems worked by prison officers. PA's role was limited to that of bringing to bear knowledge and skills, for example in the complex area of adapting shift arrangements to the grouping of work arrangements which, at the time, were unavailable within the Home Office to the extent required by the exercise.
As part of this work, PA advised the prison service on the development of its "fresh start" proposals, which were put to prison service unions in February 1987, although they took no part in the subsequent negotiations. PA consultants also provided advice on the implementation of the proposals, including development work and training, and they assisted in the running of an evaluation of "fresh start" during November 1987. Their further assistance was used in the drawing up and implementation of an action plan, based on the evaluation, to ensure the development and establishment of best practice across all prison establishments.
The total cost of PA's services for work undertaken over a four-year period in respect of "fresh start" was £948,720.90. This amount includes expenses and VAT as well as fees.