HC Deb 06 February 2002 vol 379 cc1023-4W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what performance indicators she uses to monitor the performance of the(a) Legal Services Commission, (b) Law Commission,(c) Judge Advocate-General, (d) Public Guardianship Office and (e) CAFCASS. [32044]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) The Legal Services Commission's objectives are framed in the context of the Public Service Agreements (PSAs), the Lord Chancellor's Department's Service Delivery Agreements and the Lord Chancellor's Strategic Objectives. The Commission's Annual Concordat, signed by the Commission's Chair and the Lord Chancellor, establishes the key outputs and performance targets the Commission will deliver in order to meet its objectives, and sets milestones against which the Commission's progress is reviewed. The Commission publishes an annual report each year reporting on progress against targets in its corporate plan, which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses.
  2. (b) The Lord Chancellor has a statutory duty to approve the Law Commission's programme of work which sets out the terms of reference and the timetable for each individual project and the Law Commission's targets for its consolidation and statutory revision work. The Law Commission's programme of work, currently the 8th Programme, is laid before Parliament and published by the Stationary Office.
  3. (c) Performance indicators for the Office of the Judge Advocate-General are:
    1. "1. To ensure that we are able to provide a judge advocate to conduct hearings as requested to meet the demands of the Army, Air Force and Royal Marines. We aim to appoint the judge eight weeks before the hearing date.
    2. 2. Monitor the military justice system so that wherever possible a fair and consistent approach is taken. Tender judicial advice to reviewing authorities in respect of findings and sentences of courts-martial and Standing Civilian Courts on the 29th day following trial or within three days of receipt of a petition.
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    3. 3. To provide information and documents from courts-martial files in response to inquires from the public or other interested parties.
    4. 4. Contributing to the development of primary and secondary legislation affecting the Criminal Justice Systems of the Army and Royal Air Force.
    5. 5. Monitoring the criminal justice system of the Army and Royal Air Force so as to ensure the efficient and proper working of it.
    6. 6. Maintaining contact with foreign military lawyers, especially in Eastern Europe, attending foreign conferences and direct visits.
    7. 7. Recruiting and training part-time Judge Advocates/Judicial Officers. Hold a one day training event for all judges."
  4. (d) The Public Guardianship Office's Key Performance Measures and Targets 2001–02 were announced to Parliament on 29 March 2001. Two additional key performance indicators were announced on 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 257W. A full list has today been placed in the House Libraries.
  5. (e) The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, the Lord Chancellor's Strategic Objectives and the Lord Chancellor's Department's Public Service Agreements provide the framework within which CAFCASS's Key Objectives are set out in its Framework Document, which is available in the House Libraries. Key Performance Indicators relating to these will be set out in CAFCASS's Corporate Plan for 2002–06. CAFCASS will also publish its first annual report in the summer.