HC Deb 17 July 2000 vol 354 cc62-3W
Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the performance targets set in the Prison Service's contract with Electronic Data Systems; if they have been met to date; what penalties have been included in the contract for not fulfilling the performance targets; and what safety precautions have been taken to ensure that the Prison Service's IT requirements can be satisfied if Electronic Data Systems' contract is terminated. [130302]

Mr. Boateng

The Prison Service's Quantum Agreement with Electronic Data Systems sets out a range of performance targets. These are given in the table.

Electronic Data Systems took responsibility for the day to day operation of the Prison Service's information technology and telecommunications services—"live running"—on 3 July 2000. It is therefore too soon to assess performance against targets. Regular service review meetings are required under the terms of the Agreement. The first of these will take place in August 2000.

The Quantum Agreement provides a comprehensive range of financial remedies in the event of unsatisfactory performance against targets. These have been developed in consultation and are consistent with the guidance of Partnerships United Kingdom (formerly known as the Treasury Taskforce on Private Finance Initiatives).

Prison service quantum agreement performance targets
Service Description Target
Desktop Services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Prisoner Administration 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Intranet 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Personnel 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Finance 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Other applications 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Purchasing and Stock control 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year 98%—monthly
Training Services Candidate throughput 100% to plan—monthly
Achieve agreed standards 95%—monthly
Post evaluation 100%—quarterly
Help Desk services Call response time 90% within 15 seconds—monthly
97% within 30 seconds—monthly
Confirmation of action 97% within 15 minutes—monthly
Fix times Fixes within agreed criteria Criteria dependent—Monthly
Moves and Changes On time and quality 99%—monthly
Removal and disposal 98%—monthly
Report provision Management reports on time and to quality 99%—monthly
Performance reports on time and to quality 99%—monthly
Usability Customer and User satisfaction 100%—yearly
Customer care complaints Less than 5 per quarter year