§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners died in prisons in England and Wales in 1979 and so far in the current year; and how many of these were black.
§ Mr. BrittanIn answer to the first part of the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hammersmith, North (Mr. Soley) on 17 April.—[Vol. 982, c. 703–06.] The number of deaths of inmates in prison department establishments reported so far this year is 20. Information on the racial origin of the prisoners who have died is not collected centrally, but I will write to the hon. Member.