To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of transferring prisoners (a) from one prison to another and (b) to and from court was in each of the last five years. (252157)

Details of the costs of transferring prisoners to one prison from another in England and Wales using the inter prison transfer contract are held by financial year and are set out in the following table:

Since August 2004 the contracts for the escort of prisoners have included a separate payment for every prisoner journey undertaken. The payment covers vehicle and staff costs. Details of these payments for escorting prisoners to and from courts in England and Wales are available by calendar year from 2005 and are set out in the following table.

The figures include the cost of all prisoner journeys in the London and south east contract area as to separate the escort of prisoners from police stations to prisons from the invoiced total could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Incorrect figures for the cost of escorting prisoners to and from courts were previously given in answer to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough on 31 January 2008, Official Report, column 572W.