Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 27 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 February 2010. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 1 February 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 733W, on prisons: budgets, which prison governors have been required to identify savings in their budgets for 2009-10 by Directors of Offender Management.

Answer: As a general principle all public sector prisons are expected not to exceed their delegated budget for 2009-10. However at some sites this may not possible and the Director of Offender Manager will look to cover local pressures from underspends elsewhere within the region. A year-end forecast outturn is agreed locally between the prison Governor and the regional Director of Offender Management taking into account regional financial performance which may require some sites to deliver savings compared to their original budget.There has not been a specific requirement on public prisons to deliver savings against their delegated budget for 2009-10. But the National Offender Management Service has maintained the need for prisons to use resources efficiently; economically to deliver both value for money and in preparation for planned efficiency measures in 2010-11 which are part of the overall Ministry of Justice budget settlement.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 505 c122W; 314596
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Prisons: Budgets
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Registered interest declared: Yes
Subjects: Finance Prisons
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk