§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population in Walton, Shrewsbury, Swansea and Cardiff prisons are (a) mentally handicapped and (b) educationally subnormal, (c) dyslexic and (d) illiterate; what special provisions are made for these groups; and if he is satisfied with those facilities at present available.
§ Mr. MayhewThe information for mentally handicapped, educationally subnormal and dyslexic prisoners396W cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Some information about illiteracy is available and we shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. Statistics are available for those prisoners who, in the opinion of the prison medical officer, are suffering from subnormality or severe subnormality, within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1959, of a degree which warrants detention in a psychiatric hospital. On 31 December 1980 there were no prisoners in these categories in Liverpool, Shrewsbury and Swansea and one in Cardiff out of a population of 274.
Help is available to any prisoner who needs it under normal remedial education arrangements at each prison. Such provision is required under the Prison Rules 1964 and we are satisfied that the facilities are of a good standard.