§ Mr.Alex CarlileTo ask the secretary of State for the Home Department What is the daily cost charged by each police authority for the use of police cells to house overspill prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [8758]
§ Mr MacleanNo prison Service prisoners have been held in police cells since June 1995 At that time, the national average cost per prisoner was £300 Per night.
Police authorities do not have a standard cost for holding prisoners. Each authority submits an invoice to the prison service based on the actual cost of the service provided There are many variables which may affect that cost.
Home Office circular 36/1993 gives guidance to police authorities on calculating their costs. The Home Office also monitors the charges made by police forces.
§ Mr. CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted criminals were being held in police station cells at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [8759]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 16 January 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of convicted criminals being held in police station cells at the latest available date.There have been no Prison Service prisoners held in police cells since 15 June 1995.