Written question asked by Anne Main (Conservative) on Monday, 9 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 January 2006. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Executive Agencies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) targets, (b) advice and (c) guidance his Department has given to executive agencies that fall under the remit of his Department on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The information requested is as follows.Criminal Records BureauThe Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is based in Liverpool and therefore no advice has been provided centrally on reorganisation of administrative functions on a regional basis. The Home Office is represented on the CRB Management Board and there is ongoing dialogue about how greater integration and alignment of support services can be achieved, particularly in the area of human resources.The Prison ServiceHer Majesty's Prison Service is the only executive agency within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The management of all its prisons, except for the High Security Estate which is managed nationally, is already established on an area structure based upon the boundaries of Wales and the nine government regions of England. Three prison service areas fall within the south-east region due to the number of prisons within that location.United Kingdom Passport ServiceThe Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does have planning links with the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS), and as part of this have regular bi-laterals at an official level. However IND does not provide UKPS with targets or any guidance on their organisation. Furthermore while Ministers are consulted about policy objectives to improve passport security and counter fraud, the UKPS set their own business drivers and as part of this will be opening sixty nine interview offices across the United Kingdom in 2006.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 41646; 443 c86W;443 c86W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Administration Executive agencies Advisory services Government departments Home Office Standards Reform Reorganisation HM Prison Service Regional government Criminal Records Bureau United Kingdom Passport Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk