§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken following the complaints by a London magistrate of the ability by some London prisons to produce prisoners for court hearings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe are discussing with the courts and other parties concerned how this problem might be tackled. In the longer term, we are taking forward the recommendations of the court escort scrutiny for rationalising the Prison Service's escorting commitment to courts, we are preparing plans for the more efficient deployment of prison staff across the service as a whole and we are considering the proposals made in the scrutiny report for changes in magistrates' courts procedure which would have the effect of easing the burden on the Prison Service.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions so far in the current year prisons have not been able to ensure the presence of prisoners due to attend court hearings of their cases.
§ Mr. MellorThis information is not available centrally.