§ Mr. Humphrey Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to take any action in response to the verdict of the inquest on the death of Mr. James Heather-Hayes in Ashford remand centre; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawSuicides are often unpredictable and the internal inquiries into Mr. Heather-Hayes's death did not disclose any significant matters on which action was required. Nevertheless, I have noted the inquest verdict of "lack of care". Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons is currently engaged in a routine inspection of Ashford and his team will in any event need to return to the establishment for that purpose. I have asked him to pay particular attention to the establishment's observance of central instruction and guidance on arrangements for the prevention of suicides, and to cover these topics in his inspection report which will be published this year in the normal way.
More widely, Her Majesty's chief inspector has proposed that during 1983 he should make a general study of the adequacy of arrangements for the prevention of suicides in prisons, including central instructions to establishments on the topic. I welcome this. The results of Her Majesty's chief inspector's study will be published.