Written question asked by Philip Davies (Conservative) on Wednesday, 20 October 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 22 October 2010. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 October 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prison Service: Taxis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Prison Service spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Answer: Her Majesty's Prison Service is part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The NOMS accounting system does not record expenditure on taxis separately from other forms of travel. It would incur disproportionate cost to examine thousands of individual expense claims in order to identify expenditure on taxis.All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the ministerial code. All official travel by NOMS staff is completed in line with the published rules for official travel and subsistence. The rules are in accordance with the guidelines set out in the civil service management code.The NOMS policy on staff use of taxis is that staff may only claim reimbursement of fares in the following circumstances:"(i) for journeys for which there is no other suitable method of public transport; or""(ii) where heavy luggage has to be transported to or from the place of departure or arrival; or""(iii) where the saving of official time is important."

Secondary information