§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally handicapped people were admitted to prison, remand centres or custodial care in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MellorInformation is not held centrally as to the number of prisoners received into custody who could be deemed mentally handicapped. However, the following table shows the number of inmates in prison custody in England and Wales on the dates shown whose disorder, in the opinion of the Medical Officer, was of a nature or degree which would make it appropriate for them to be detained in hospital under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Date Number 30 September 1981 327 31 March 1982 287 30 September 1982 286 31 March 1983 319 30 September 1983 316 31 March 1984 310 30 September 1984 283 31 March 1985 269 30 September 1985 251