To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29 January 2007, Official Report, columns 8-10, on Ministry of Justice (Reorganisation), what criteria his Department plans to use to judge the performance of the new structure in (a) improving public protection, (b) reducing reoffending, (c) improving relations with the judiciary and (d) streamlining leadership in Wales; and what measurement process will be used. (184055)

The new structure for the Ministry of Justice will provide the Department with a sharper focus on its key priorities, including public protection and reducing re-offending, and improving relations with the judiciary, while streamlining leadership across the whole of the Department’s agenda and removing duplication and overlapping responsibilities. A performance framework is being developed for the Department, which will include indicators for monitoring progress against departmental strategic objectives and our commitments, including any specifically relating to Wales, within the government public service agreements. It will also have indicators for assessing improvements in the way we work across the Department.