HC Deb 07 July 1998 vol 315 cc424-5W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Prison Service intends to publish its 1998–2001 Corporate and Business Plan; and what performance targets have been set for 1998–99. [49638]

Mr. Ingram

The Northern Ireland Prison Service's Corporate and Business Plan for 1998–2001 was published today. The following key performance targets have been set for 1998–99:

  1. 1. To ensure 100 per cent. security for prisoners in high and top risk categories.
  2. 2. To ensure at least 99.5 per cent. security for prisoners in medium and low risk categories.
  3. 3. To ensure that the number of significant breaches during 1998–99 does not exceed 7.1 per 100 prisoners.
  4. 4. To increase the target number of hours of constructive activity undertaken each week by prisoners by 3 per cent. from 23 hours to 23.7 hours.
  5. 5. To establish baseline information for each establishment on the number and duration of, and potential improvements to, visits.
  6. 6. To offer sentence planning to all eligible prisoners and to achieve a 50 per cent. uptake.
  7. 7. To achieve an average of 5 days training and development per member of staff.
  8. 8. To ensure that the average cost per prisoner place does not exceed £75,7661 (a reduction in real terms of 3.9 per cent. on the target for 1997–98).

1The average cost per prisoner place is based on a staffed prisoner places figure of 1776. Due to the completion of two new house blocks at Maghaberry and events elsewhere in the prison estate, this figure may change during the year.