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Public Service Agreements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target concerning the model to assess the levels and routes of supply of drugs within prisons. [16930]
Beverley Hughes: The scope of this work has now been agreed and the project is under way, with a provisional completion date of June 2002.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the efficiency of the Probation Service in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [16929]
Beverley Hughes: Analysis of the currently available financial information indicates that the Probation Service achieved an estimated efficiency saving of 0.6 per cent. in 2000–01, against the target of 4 per cent. This followed estimated savings of 17 per cent. during the three year period from 1995–96 to 1998–99, significantly above the target requirement. The reduction in the level of estimated savings between 1995–96 to 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to 2000–01 recognised the substantial additional investment provided to the Probation Service from 1998 to secure and improve effective service delivery.
The public service agreement target for the National Probation Service in 2001–02 is 3 per cent. The National Probation Service has issued efficiency savings targets to each of the 42 local probation boards for 2001–02. Boards are required to include a statement of their proposed
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efficiency savings in their annual plan. Boards are also being required to report on their achievement of efficiency savings targets for 2001–02.
The National Probation Service recognises that the achievement of efficiency savings is critically important and it is also vital to have proper arrangements for measuring efficiency savings. The National Probation Service is therefore committed to developing a new comprehensive model to measure efficiency savings that takes into account the very considerable changes that are being made to the arrangements for dealing with offenders, such as the introduction of accredited programmes.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for completions of accredited offender behaviour programmes in prison; [17068]
- (2) if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for completions of accredited offender behaviour programmes for sex offenders. [17067]
Beverley Hughes: The Public Service Agreement target for completions of accredited offender behaviour programmes in prison was published in 'Public Services for the Future: Modernisation, Reform, Accountability'. The target was to increase the number of completions of accredited offender behaviour programmes run by the Prison Service from 3,000 to 6,000 a year by 2001–02, including an increase from 680 to 1,100 in those completing sex offender programmes.
Completions of offending behaviour and sex offender treatment programmes are key performance indicators for the Prison Service. Performance for the period 1999–2002 is listed in the table.
| Offending behaviour programmes | Sex offender treatment programmes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 4,664 | 585 |
| 2000–01 | 5,986 | 786 |
| 2001–02(12) | 2,613 | 164 |
(12) Performance for the year 2001–02 is for the period April 2001–October 2001. These data are provisional and subject to change.
Data on accredited offending behaviour programmes and other key performance indicators are published in the Prison Service annual report and accounts and Her Majesty's Prison Service Corporate and Business Plan.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target of reducing violent crime against vulnerable groups; [17312]
- (2) if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target in respect of domestic violence. [17311]
Mr. Denham: There are no specific public service agreements to reduce domestic violence or to reduce violent crime against vulnerable groups, but as part of the Government's determination to reduce violent crime overall we are committed to taking steps to tackle the problem of violence against all sectors of the community.
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Between 1999 and 2000 the British Crime Survey shows that the number of violent crimes has decreased significantly, by 19 per cent. The survey shows a 34 per cent. decrease in the incidents of domestic violence over that period.
We have taken a number of steps to address domestic violence including issuing a new Home Office circular to the police, issuing multi-agency guidance for addressing domestic violence, and providing over £10 million funding under the Crime Reduction Programme to the Violence Against Women initiative. Further consideration is currently being given across government as to what further strategic measures are needed to ensure there is adequate provision for domestic violence survivors, the Criminal Justice System response to domestic violence is robust and effective, and to reduce incidents of domestic violence and repeat victimisation.
We have also taken steps to strengthen the protection of children as part of our major reform of the law on sex offences, and to target hate crime with new racially aggravated offences and legislation to ensure that the courts treat evidence of racial hostility as a factor in sentencing.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for the Crime Reduction Programme. [17313]
Mr. Denham: There is no specific public service agreement (PSA) target for the Crime Reduction Programme. However a number of the initiatives being funded under the programme contribute towards the PSA targets for reducing domestic burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, as well as contributing to a reduction in the fear of crime.
Offending Behaviour Programme
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cost in 2001–02 of the Accredited Offending Behaviour Programme. [17324]
Beverley Hughes: In 2001–02, the cost of developing and implementing accredited offending behaviour programmes in the community is projected to be £44 million. £15.3 million of this came from the 2000 Spending Review settlement, with the remaining £28.7 million coming from efficiency savings as a result of replacing old programmes with the new, accredited ones.
Prison Population
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prison population for each prison; and what overcrowding there is in each prison. [17208]
Beverley Hughes: The total population and number of overcrowded prisoners in each establishment at the end of October is listed in the table. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.
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Source:
Figures for Northhallerton are currently not available
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Overcrowding includes prisoners held two to a cell designed for one, those held three in a cell designed for two and those overcrowded in larger dormitories and other accommodation units where population exceeds the uncrowded capacity.
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Overcrowding is not evenly dispersed across the prison estate; it is particularly concentrated in local prisons. Local prisons are those which serve the courts of a specific area.
The Prison Service key performance indicator on overcrowding measures the number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one. The target for this financial year is not to exceed 18 per cent. of the average population. The provisional April 2001 to October 2001 performance is better than target and stands at 16.9 per cent.
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