IT could save Prison Service millions, says report

The UK Prison Service could save £9m by using IT for its purchasing, but the system will not be in place until 2005.

A report by the influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published last week says technology would help the service streamline its buying.

'The Prison Service's ability to achieve significant efficiency gains is hindered by the absence of adequate information technology systems. Such systems would provide headquarters' staff and prison governors with better management information on, for example, stock levels, stock turnover rates and prices across the prison estate,' says the report.

Technology infrastructure in prisons is being upgraded as part of the £200m Quantum deal signed with services supplier EDS in 2000. But the procurement application module will not be up and running until April 2005.

The PAC report suggests there are lessons to be learned from past experience.

'In seeking to deliver its new IT system on time and on budget, the Prison Service should refer to the lessons set out in our predecessor committee's report 'Improving the delivery of government IT projects,' says the PAC report.

• An HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMP) report published last week says probation IT has a 'troubled history' but finds substantial progress around the Offender Assessment System and development of a standard technical environment.

  There has been only limited progress on the national case record and issues remain around the Crams case management system, it says.

  The National Probation Directorate claims that progress on IT compares well with similar organisations.

  But the HMP reports says 'The substantial time required for IT developments in the public sector in general is of concern and it would be useful to identify reasons.'