§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those hospitals that have refused to accept the 20 prisoners awaiting transfer under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 to a National Health Service hospital on 26 February, with the reasons for the refusal.
§ Mr. BrittanThe 20 prisoners mentioned in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 3 March were waiting for a hospital place to be allocated by a regional health authority. It would not be appropriate therefore to describe them as having been refused places by particular hospitals. The present position in relation to 13 of these 20 prisoners is as follows:
Admitted to local psychiatric hospitals since 26 February 1980 7 On waiting lists for local psychiatric hospitals 2 Shortly to be admitted to special hospital 1 Recommendation for transfer to hospital withdrawn 1 Decisions by Regional Health Authorities awaited 2 In the remaining seven cases, the regional health authorities concerned have indicated that, in their view, the prisoners concerned need a greater degree of security than can be provided by a local hospital in their region. However, in two of these cases, the prisoners have been released to out-patient care in the community following the expiry of their sentences. In the other five cases attempts are still being made to find suitable hospital vacancies.