HC Deb 13 February 1978 vol 944 cc23-4W
Mr. Michael Spicer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dangerous, or potentially dangerous, mentally ill patients there are for whom the only secure accommodation at present is a prison hospital or a special hospital, such as Broadmoor or Rampton.

Mr. Moyle

At 31st December 1977 there were 2,108 patients in the special hospitals of whom just under half were mentally ill. A minority of these are no longer considered to be dangerous or potentialy dangerous and their transfer to other hospitals or discharge is being sought.

The continuing discussions between my Department and the Home Office about the problem of the number of mentally disordered people in prisons are aimed, in part, at identifying more clearly the numbers and characteristics of those who are finding their way into prison because of the lack of suitable secure hospital accommodation.