HC Deb 08 December 1995 vol 268 cc448-9W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prisoners and (b) remanded prisoners in England and Wales committed suicide in (i) 1991, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1993 and (iv) 1994. [4298]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about suicides in prisons in England and Wales.Between 1 January 1991 and 1 December 1994 there were 191 self-inflicted deaths in prison in England and Wales. The attached table shows a breakdown of figures for each year for remand/unsentenced prisoners and sentenced prisoners.

Self-inflicted deaths1 in England and Wales in 1991–1994: by status of prisoner
Year Self-inflicted deaths—all prisoners Self inflicted deaths of sentenced prisoners Self-inflicted remand/unsentenced prisoners
1991 42 16 26
1992 41 24 17
1993 47 26 21
1994 61 30 13
1The figures are for all self inflicted deaths which provide a more accurate representation than restriction to inquest verdicts of suicide.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the suicide rate for(a)sentenced prisoners and (b) prisoners on remand in each year since 1990. [3516]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about suicide rates in the Prison Service since 1990.Between 1 January 1990 and 1 December 1995 there were 298 self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. The attached table shows a breakdown of figures for each year for remand-unsentenced prisoners and sentenced prisoners.

Self inflicted deaths1 in England and Wales 1990-1995 (as to 1 December): by status of prisoner
Year Self inflicted deaths of remand/unsentenced prisoners Self inflicted deaths of sentenced prisoners
1990 27 23
1991 16 26
1992 24 17
1993 26 21
1994 30 31
19952 25 33
1 Figures are provided for all self-inflicted deaths which provide a more accurate representation than restriction to inquest verdicts of suicides.
2 As of 1 December 1995.