To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to his Department of housing prisoners in court cells was in each of the last 24 months. (245177)

No court cells are currently in use or have been since February 2008. Court cells were used to accommodate prisoners overnight between January and June 2007, and again in February this year. Invoices to the value of £2.54 million have to date been paid to escort contractors who staffed the cells.

Invoices are not month-specific and therefore we cannot reply on a month-by-month basis.