HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 cc305-6W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how often the Home Office official at Doncaster prison responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of(a) bodybelts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (d) special segregation unit cells since the prison was opened; [8424]

(2) what is the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at Doncaster prison have been detained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint since it opened; [8442]

(3) on how many occasions since it opened inmates in Doncaster prison have been kept in bodybelts for more than 12 hours; [8421]

(4) on how many occasions since it opened inmates at Doncaster prison have been (a) detained in a strip cell and (b) restrained by bodybelts for (i) medical or (ii) non-medical purposes. [8439]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 25 January 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints, special segregation unit cells and strip cells at Doncaster prison since its opening in June 1994. The use of ankle-straps has twice been authorized on one inmate, for medical reasons, to prevent him causing himself serious and permanent injury. The first occasion was for 24 hours 37 minutes and the second was for six days and 55 minutes. The use of the special cell was authorized on 57 occasions during the period 20 June 1994 to 31 December 1994. It was also used without authorization on 44 occasions. This resulted in the operating company Premier Prison Services being issued with a default notice for use of the cell without the Controller's authorization. From 1 January to 31 December 1995 the special cell was used on 41 occasions with the authorization of the Controller of each occasion. Bodybelts have been used on two occasions since the prison opened, once for medical and once for non-medical reasons. The longest time spent in a body belt is two hours. The shortest time spent in a body belt was 1 hour 55 minutes. This gives an average time of I hour 57 minutes.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each prison in England and Wales the number of occasions that restraints were used on(a) men and (b) women prisoners during December 1995; [11603]

(2) how many (a) men and (b) women were placed in restraints when taken outside prisons, in England and Wales, for whatever reason, during the week beginning 1 January 1996. [11604]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 January 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about restraints used on prisoners in England and Wales. This information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.