§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during the last 12 months private taxis have been used to transport prisoners(a) to and (b) from the Wolds prison; what category were the prisoners on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [36296]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 July 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use of taxis to escort prisoners at Wolds prison.Between June 1995 and May 1996 taxis were used by Wolds prison on 200 occasions to transport prisoners. Information on the breakdown of prisoner category is not collected centrally and could 270W be provided only at disproportionate cost. After May 1996 Group 4 court services took over responsibility for transporting prisoners as and when required.