To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many temporary transfers of prisoners between prisons in England and Wales have taken place in each year since 1997; and for what reason each transfer was authorised.

Transfers of prisoners between prisons take place daily for a variety of reasons and for varying lengths of time. Reasons may include, for example, temporary moves on compassionate grounds; or to allow visits to take place; or to take part in particular regime activities. Information on the number and reasons for every temporary transfer of a prisoner is not recorded centrally. On 20 October 2009, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) made a statement to the House asking Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to work with the Ministry of Justice director of analytical services to investigate whether any temporary transfer of prisoners had occurred before an inspection by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons. The results of this investigation will be made available in due course.