Written question asked by Gary Streeter (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 March 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 March 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) quality and (b) standards of performance of (i) private sector and (ii) public sector prisons. - (Holding answer 10 March 2003).

Answer: Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) quality and (b) standards of performance of (i) private sector and (ii) public sector prisons. [101434] Hilary Benn: [holding answer 10 March 2003]: Private sector prisons are subject to the same assessments of their performance as that of public sector. These assessments include the following: inspections by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons; annual reports by the Independent Monitoring Boards (formerly Board of Visitors) of each prison; and regular audits made by the Prison Service on each prison in terms of compliance with Prison Service performance Targets and Standards. The Prison Service is looking to further develop its existing performance management framework as part of a performance improvement programme that will build on the success of Performance Testing. Consultations are underway and an announcement will be made shortly.

Secondary information