HC Deb 28 March 1985 vol 76 c271W
44. Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the efficiency of the prison service.

Mr. Mellor

As part of the Government's financial management initiative the prison service is committed to obtaining maximum value for money from all its resources of manpower, building, and plant. In particular prioritywill be given to ensuring that prison service staff are deployed to the best possible effect and with less reliance than at present on very high levels of overtime. Other measures designed to increase efficiency include the following:

  1. (a) a system of annual performance reviews, which are being used to set management objectives and monitor performance across the service;
  2. (b) better and more timely financial and management information from a computerised functional costing system (introduced in April 1983 and still being developed):
  3. (c) a system of local budgets, targeted for implementation in regional offices and prison Department establishments from 1st April 1986 — to give greater responsibility to local management for the effective control of expenditure;
  4. (d) establishment of a small Efficiency Branch which is currently conducting a review of personnel work in the prison service: the Branch will be responsible for identifying and taking forward other efficiency initiatives throughout the prison service;
  5. (e) a strategy study of the information technology needs of the prison service over the next decade has been completed and studies are being undertaken in several specific areas in which computers can make significant improvements in operational efficiency and management effectiveness.