§ Baroness Mallalieuasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received Sir Donald Acheson's second report on the effects on health of the regimes in special secure units, and whether they intend to make the results public. [HL952]
Lord Williamson of MostynWe have now received Sir Donald Acheson's second report on the Special Secure Unit (SSU) at Whitemoor. His report acknowledges that significant progress has been made in implementing his previous recommendations in particular, a series of regime improvements have been made, and a robust system of regular health reviews for all SSU prisoners has been introduced.
With regard to closed visits, the report accepts that the improved regime and atmosphere within the SSU is, at least in part, attributable to the confidence which closed visits give to staff. Accordingly, there is no call for a change to the visits policy.
The report contains just one further recommendation, which we accept, about the involvement of an external consultant psychiatrist in the health review process.
A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.