Recommendations relating to the operational phase:

•  the Prison Service should share its measurement techniques with other government departments;

•  the number of performance measures should be reviewed;

•  the quality and collection of performance data in the public sector should be improved;

•  the link between performance and financial deductions should be monitored closely;

•  greater flexibility should be introduced into earlier PFI contracts as priorities have changed;

•  the system of performance measurement should be sharpened;

•  the role of the Controller should be enhanced; and

•  good practice initiatives in the day-to-day operation of prisons should be shared between the public and private sectors to a greater extent.