To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist (a) to monitor and (b) to compare the performance of area managers within HM Prison Service; when each Prison Service area manager was appointed; what assessment he has made of the performance of the area manager for each Prison Service area; and if he will make a statement. (134539)

All area managers are managed by the deputy director general in HM Prison Service who is accountable for operational performance. The deputy director general has a wide range of management information against which to compare establishments and areas. Information performance is published in the annual report and is available via the Prison Service website.

Area managers are members of the senior civil service (SCS) and are subject to the SCS performance appraisal system.