To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all prison vans are allowed to use bus lanes when transporting prisoners to and from court in London; whether there is a restriction for smaller vans; and why. [HL5204]

Transport for London has agreed that the 14, 12 and seven-cell prisoner escort vehicles have permission to use these lanes. These vehicles deliver a high priority service to courts and prison. They are also classed as mini buses and are able to use these lanes. Further discussions are taking place with Transport for London and the high sheriff to ascertain whether the prisoner escort contractor’s smaller six-cell vehicle can also use the lanes.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners have escaped while being transported in prison vans in London in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [HL5205]

Prisoner escort contractors are within target of no more one escape for every 30,000 prisoners handled. Data on escapes from vehicles in the London area for the past five financial years 2004-05 to 2008-09 are shown in the table. These figures are broken down into key performance indicator (KPI) and non-KPI escapes.

A KPI escape is where a prisoner is at liberty for 15 minutes or more before recapture or an offence is committed during an escape that lasts less than 15 minutes. A non-KPI escape is where a prisoner is recaptured within 15 minutes and no offence is committed during the course of the escape. Levels of escapes continue to be at their lowest since escorts were contracted out in 1998.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what number or proportion of prison vans transporting prisoners to court in London arrive late on the most recent figures available. [HL5206]

The department does not collect information on the number of prisoner escort vehicles that are late to court. However, the department does collect data on the late arrival of prisoners to court. Details on these figures are below, showing the percentage of prisoners delivered late to courts in London.

The department's method of recording this information does not necessarily mean that the prisoner was late for their court appearance. It is unusual for the court to be delayed. The prisoners are recorded late against agreed delivery time to the court, which will normally be 30 minutes before the court sits.

The figures provided cover the period December 2008 to June 2009.