Prisoners: Transport

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate Excerpts

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

Yes, I think that I can give the noble Lord that assurance. Again, standards of training is one of the things that the inquiry will be looking at. This will of course vary because we are talking about a large number of movements throughout a year and many of them are a very low category indeed. Under successive Governments over the last 15 years, the actual number of successful break-outs or escapes in transit has made this very much an exception rather than the rule. That is a sign of the improvements in transportation facilities and the training of staff. The wider review will look at this. As I said, if lessons are to be learnt, we will learn them. There is also the prospect that, with a greater use of television to allow distance interviewing of prisoners, there will be less need to transport them.

[Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate]

My Lords—

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

Is this really a question of training? Is it not a question of making appropriate provision in these special circumstances?