HL Deb 04 May 1970 vol 310 cc6-7
THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what facilities for psychiatric treatment exist in the maximum security wings of the prisons at Durham, Leicester, Chelmsford and Parkhurst.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (BARONESS SEROTA)

My Lords, the medical resources of these prisons, including their hospitals, are available for the inmates of the special wings. The supervising medical officers at Durham, Leicester and Parkhurst prisons are psychiatrically qualified, and psychiatrically qualified medical staff at Pentonville prison are available to the medical officer at Chelmsford prison. The advice of local consultants may also be obtained, if required.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, does that mean that if a prisoner in Durham, for example, or in any of the other prisons, requires a prolonged course of psychiatric treatment it can be provided by the local medical officer on the spot? Would the Minister consider this officer qualified in that sense?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, without my knowing the kind of psychiatric treatment required, that would be a very difficult question to answer. I can only suggest, as I said in my initial reply, that the whole of the medical resources of the prisons are available to assist the inmates of the special wings in whom I know my noble friend Lord Longford is extremely interested.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she is surprised to hear that her Answer will be regarded as totally ambiguous by all those interested in trying to reform the conditions under which prisoners are serving their sentences?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Earl takes that view of my Answer. I have tried to be completely factual. If he could give me details of the problems that are worrying him, perhaps we could pursue the matter further.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I am able certainly to supply a great many details, but not at Question Time.