MPs praise Prison Service procurement system upgrade

£120m saved over five years

New IT supports centralised purchasing

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has praised the Prison Service for having successfully phased in a computer system underpinning a new central procurement process.

PAC chairman Edward Leigh, better known for withering criticism of departmental blunders, said: "How often do you hear that? The quality of the goods and services procured has improved and around £120m in cash saved over five years."

The committee was examining a National Audit Office report following up what had been done since an earlier report complained of a series of shortcomings.