§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why total expenditure on the Crown Prosecution Service, both in real terms and as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product, has declined every year since 1994–95; and what the effect has been on the performance of the service. [HL3839]
§ Lord Williams of MostynFunding for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is determined through the normal public expenditure process. Total expenditure by the CPS has increased in cash terms in each year since 1994–95, will increase in real terms in 2000–01 and will continue to do so over the spending review period until 2004.
Since 1994–95, the settlements for the CPS have been challenging. Performance against the CPS's timeliness indicators has been maintained by ensuring that scare resources have been directed to the immediate day to day business of prosecuting and by the continuing commitment and efforts of the CPS staff.
The SR 2000 settlement for the CPS was a good one and, as a result, the CPS's budget in 2003–04 will be 8 per cent higher in real terms than in 2000–01. The increase in funding will allow the CPS to improve its overall performance, introduce direct communication with witnesses and implement a modernisation programme that will result in increased investment in information technology and accommodation infrastructure.