§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with psychiatric health problems are currently being held in prison cells. [35538]
§ Ms QuinStudies conducted for the Prison Service by the Institute of Psychiatry have indicated that a psychiatric diagnosis, including substance dependency or abuse, could be given to nearly 40 per cent. of the sentenced prison population of England and Wales and some 66 per cent. of remand prisoners. This would suggest that around 20,000 sentenced and 8,300 remand prisoners have some kind of mental disorder.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for mental health care for people in prison. [35539]
§ Ms QuinProcedures are in place to identify prisoners who need in-patient treatment for mental disorder and to effect their transfer to a psychiatric hospital. The care and treatment of mentally disordered prisoners who do not require in-patient treatment in hospital is generally undertaken by prison healthcare staff or by visiting National Health Service specialists, either on a sessional basis or in some cases as part of a contracted-in comprehensive psychiatric service.