Performance Targets (Hansard, 19 July 2002)

§ The Solicitor-General

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: There are many performance targets contained in public service agreements or service delivery agreements that affect the Departments for which the Attorney General is responsible. Government targets set and monitored centrally cover a range of initiatives and projects. The information provided below is based on additional performance targets:

Crown Prosecution Service

Apart from those set out in the public service agreements for 1999–2002 and 2001 to 2004, the CPS Business Plan for 2002–03 requires the following targets to be met: Serving committal papers to the defence within agreed timescales in 80 per cent of cases. Submitting briefs to counsel within agreed timescales in 83.5 per cent of cases. Reducing to 6 per 100,000 the number of cases dismissed on a submission of no case to answer in the magistrates' courts which are attributable to failures in the review process. Reducing to 5 cases per 1,000 the number of nonjury acquittals in the Crown Court which are attributable to failures in the review process. Increasing to 86 per cent the proportion of relevant cases where the prosecution comply with statutory duties of primary disclosure. Increasing to 83 per cent the proportion of relevant cases where the prosecution comply with statutory duties of secondary disclosure. Increasing to 7 per cent the proportion of advocates whose performance is significantly above normal requirements.

Targets are set by the CPS Board and achievement against targets is monitored quarterly by the CPS Resources and Performance Group, who report to the CPS Board.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

The Treasury Solicitor's Department has one published target whish is not incorporated in the current Public Service Agreements. This relates to ill-health retirements. The Treasury Solicitor's Department will be seeking to achieve a level of ill health retirements consistent with or better than the best quartile of 3.72 retirements per 1,000 employees by 2005. The target is st by the Attorney General and achievement is monitored by the Treasury Solicitor.

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HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

The purpose of the Inspectorate is to promote continuous improvement in the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of the prosecution services within a joined-up criminal justice system through a process of inspection and evaluation, the provision of advice and the identification of good practice.

The Inspectorate strives to achieve excellence in all aspects of its activities and in particular to provide customers and stakeholders with consistent and professional inspection and evaluation processes together with advice and guidance, all measured against recognised quality standards and defined performance levels.

In the year 2002–03 the Inspectorate is committed to: completing the first cycle of inspections of CPS Areas and Headquarters Directorates; consulting with CPS Headquarters and Areas on its approach to, and the planning and organisation of, the second cycle; commencing the second cycle of CPS inspection activity; undertaking the pilot inspection of Manchester Customs and Excise prosecution function; conducting a joint inspection of West Midlands with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate; continuing with thematic and joint inspection activity.

The Inspectorate's strategic plan for 2002–05 contains four strategic objectives and its Business Plan for 200203 contains 28 objectives which, taken together, provide the targets against which current Inspectorate performance will be judged.

These objectives are systematically measured against criteria set out in the annual Business Plan which also contains a series of challenging deadlines for the achievement of each objective.

The Inspectorate's Strategic and Business Plans are agreed by its management team in consultation with the Attorney General's Advisory Board. Progress against the Business Plan objectives is monitored monthly by the management team on the basis of information collected and supplied by the Inspectorate's Corporate Services Manager. At each of its meetings, the Advisory Board receives a report detailing the action which the Inspectorate has taken towards the achievement of its objectives.

Further monitoring is provided by the quarterly and annual reports which the Chief Inspector provides for the Attorney General.