§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what use, and under what specific circumstances, private taxis are used for the transporting of(a) prisoners from Buckley Hall prison and (b) other male category C prisons; [31888]
(2) what guidance is given by his Department as to the suitability of using private taxis for the transportation of prisoners from male category C prisons. [31885]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 12 June 1996]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
297WLetter from Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 17 June 1996
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of private taxis to transport prisoners.Taxis are used widely to transport prisoners, particularly when there is only one prisoner to be escorted. Guidance on the use of escort vehicles, including taxis, is set out in section 52 of the Prison Service manual on Security, copies of which are in the Library.Buckley Hall prison and other category C prisons use taxis in the circumstances set out in the guidance.