HC Deb 09 May 1980 vol 984 cc284-91W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of deaths of prisoners from 0–98 per 1,000 of the daily average population in 1977 to 1.43 in 1978.

Mr. Brittan

The numbers of deaths are too small for differential analysis from year to year.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deptartment what was the age, sex, offence, prison and cause of death of each of the prisoners who died in National Health Service hospitals in 1977, 1978 and 1979, respectively; and what was the length of sentence served in National Health Service hospitals immediately prior to death in each case.

Mr. Brittan

Information on prisoners who died in National Health Service hospitals in 1977, 1978 and 1979 is given below. To obtain the information relating to periods spent in hospitals would involve disproportionate cost.

1977
Age Sex Offence Cause of death Prison
73 Male Deception Natural causes: abdominal neuro-fibrosarcomatosis Wandsworth
61 Male Conspiracy/Defraud Natural causes: cardiac infarct Brixton
56 Male Deception Natural causes: myocardial infarct Canterbury
34 Male Theft Natural causes: cardio-respiratory failure Bedford
47 Male Wandering abroad Natural causes: acute ventricular failure, emphysema Leicester
51 Male Arson Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Canterbury
62 Male Deception Natural causes: carcinoma of the bronchus Wandsworth
22 Male Burglary Natural causes: chronic renal failure Manchester
44 Male Burglary Natural causes: heart failure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy Durham
37 Male Deception Natural causes: intracerebral haemorrhage Birmingham
54 Male Criminal damage Natural causes: bronchopneumonia Lincoln
55 Male Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Parkhurst
47 Male Conspiracy Natural causes: coronary artery occlusion Parkhurst
1978
Age Sex Offence Cause of death Prison
51 Male Wandering abroad Natural causes: coronary occlusion atheroma Pentonville
55 Male Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Cardiff
66 Male Buggery Misadventure: bronchopneumonia Wakefield
58 Male Fraud Natural causes: septicaemia hepatitis Ford
41 Male Burglary Natural causes: respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism Haverigg
66 Male Threatening behaviour Open verdict: brain damage Leeds
72 Male Threatening behaviour Natural causes: heart failure Leeds
43 Male Wounding Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Lincoln
56 Male Theft Natural causes: bronchopneumonia Wandsworth
36 Male Burglary/robbery Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia Brixton
27 Male Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Manchester
62 Male Indecent assault Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Wakefield
71 Male Theft Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia Brixton
40 Male Wounding Natural causes: carcinoma of colon Parkhurst
65 Male Arson Natural causes: chronic bronchitis and emphysema Brixton
39 Male Theft Natural causes: pulmonary oedema leukaemia Spring Hill
22 Male Arson Natural causes: diabetes mellitus Risley
35 Male Theft Natural causes: acute pancreatitis, pericarditis Lincoln
25 Male Burglary Natural causes: acute monocytic leukaemia Dartmoor
59 Female Theft Natural causes: carcinoma head of pancreas Styal
57 Male Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Appleton Thorn
1979
Age Sex Offence Cause of death Prison
64 Male Theft Natural causes: cerebral infarct Wandsworth
64 Male Burglary Natural causes: bronchial carcinoma Manchester
57 Male Deception Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Liverpool
44 Male Theft Natural causes: pontine haemorrhage cerebral oedema Pentonville
17 Male Taking without consent Natural causes: heart failure, haemorrhage of lungs Wetherby
53 Male Indecent assault Natural causes: carcinoma of lung Winchester
45 Male Burglary Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Leeds
68 Male Manslaughter Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Lincoln
33 Male Theft Natural causes: coronary atheroma Cardiff
47 Male Incest Natural causes: carcinomatosis of stomach Leicester
43 Female Theft Natural causes: subarachnoid haemorrhage, ruptured congenital " berry" aneurysm Drake Hall
51 Male Contempt of court Natural causes: myocardial infarction ischaemic heart disease Shrewsbury
31 Male Theft, deception Natural causes: cerebral haemorrhage Ashwell
55 Male Criminal damage Natural causes: lobar pneumonia Risley
67 Male TADA Natural causes: carcinomatous peritonitis Appleton Thorn
32 Male Deception Accidental death: hypoglycaemia Liverpool
27 Male Murder Natural causes: cardiac arrest, coronary thrombosis Wakefield
37 Male Robbery Natural causes: cerebral haemorrhage Nottingham
28 Male Theft Natural causes: tubercular meningitis Lincoln
16 Male Criminal damage Natural causes: acute myocarditis Latchmere House
16 Male Burglary, theft Natural causes: brain haemorrhage Thorp Arch
56 Male Buggery Natural causes: coronary thrombosis Wakefield

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prison medical officers keep details about deceased prisoners including (a) the time the deceased was taken ill, (b) when the medical officer was first notified of the illness, (c) the nature of the illness, (d) date and time of prisoner's death and (e) an account of the appearance after death, where a post mortem takes place, and any special remarks made by the medical officer; and whether the keeping of any such records is obligatory or at the discretion of the officer.

Mr. Brittan

As required by prison standing orders, medical officers keep records which include the details specified at (a), (c), (d) and (e). The information at (b) is recorded in prison medical records.