§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what funds are made available to prisoners who are taken on shopping trips;
(2) why prisoners on shopping visits are conveyed by taxi rather than public transport.
§ Mr. JohnWomen prisoners, unlike male prisoners, are allowed to wear their own clothes. Public funds are available to provide clothing for women prisoners whose own clothing is inadequate or unsuitable, and occasionally it may be necessary or desirable to take them to shop for clothing.
One establishment formerly used taxis for this purpose. However, in recent months there have been no such shopping trips because staff have not been available to act as escorts. An official vehicle will be used for any future trips.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of hiring taxis to convey prisoners.
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§ Mr. JohnThe total expenditure on the conveyance of prisoners during the financial year 1975–76 was just over £2 million. It is not possible to isolate from this total the amount paid for contract hire vehicles save at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why prisoners are conveyed by taxis rather than by prison vehicles if they are being taken to court.
§ Mr. JohnPrisoners are conveyed to courts by police, prison or contract hire vehicles. Without the use of contract hire vehicles it would be impossible to provide the flexible transport service needed to satisfy the heavy and often urgent demands of the courts.