§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement concerning progress on implementing the information technology Case Record and Management System in the probation service; [94771]
(2) how many probation services currently use the Case Record and Management System; and if he will make a statement. [94774]
§ Mr. BoatengForty-four probation services are currently using Case Record and Management System. Of these
Six are currently training their staff to use it;Twenty-seven use it and classify themselves as fully dependent on it; andEleven classify themselves as partially dependent on it (they are using only some functions or it has only been deployed to some of their offices).
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the Case Record and Management System with an alternative information technology system; if a tender has been put out for an alternative system to CRAMS; and if he will make a statement. [94772]
626W
§ Mr. BoatengCase Record and Management System now needs to be re-developed in order better to support the modernisation of the probation service, including important developments such as the evidence-based programmes to reduce the likelihood of re-offending, the new joint probation-prisons offender assessment system (OASys), and the new National Standards for the supervision of offenders. Its successor will also need to facilitate connections to other parts of the criminal justice system and the time is now right to take advantage of the further advances in information technology.
A user requirement is currently being developed and the work will be put out to tender in due course.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of developing and implementing the Case Record and Management System in the probation service; what was the original expected cost of the system; and if he will make a statement. [94773]
§ Mr. BoatengThere have been four major release versions of Case Record and Management System. The total development cost of these was £3.2 million which is in line with original estimates. The total implementation cost of the four versions was £1.4 million. This is £300,000 more than the estimated cost of implementation, largely for reasons of Year 2000 compliance.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a year 2000 compliant version of the Case Record and Management System has been made available to probation services; how many probation services are using such a system; and if he will make a statement. [94775]
§ Mr. BoatengA year 2000 complaint version of Case Record and Management System is currently being rolled out to probation services. The rollout is on schedule and by the end of this week 26 probation services will have it. The rollout is due to be completed by 17 November.